Science Technology and Public Policy

Research centers

Research, learning, and impactThe Ford School is home to or co-sponsor of a growing number of active, multi-disciplinary research centers and initiatives leveraging the knowledge and expertise across the University of Michigan. They serve as a resour...

News

Parthasarathy urges AI regulation

Sep 26, 2026

"The United States urgently needs to regulate AI, because of the risks the technology poses today, to privacy, civil liberties, equality, our health, environment and beyond," according to professor of public policy and director of the Science, Techno...

News

Parthasarathy among newest cohort of Michigan Society of Fellows

Sep 24, 2026

Shobita Parthasarathy has been named to the Michigan Society of Fellows for a term of four years.

Policy Matters

Policy Pitch Competition 2nd Place Winner Lakshay Sood (BA ‘27) reflects on his summer internship at Sandia National Laboratories

Sep 23, 2026

9th Annual Policy Pitch Competition second place winner Lakshay Sood (BA ‘27) reflected on his summer internship experience for the Ford School's Policy Matters blog

A presenter in a suit and glasses gestures while speaking at a wooden lectern beside a blue curtain.

Publication

Parthasarathy: Restoring trust in science requires public accountability, not greater industry control

Sep 18, 2026

In her fourth Expert Voices column for Science, Shobita Parthasarathy, Ford School professor of public policy and director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy (STPP) program, discusses the Trump administration's new science policy strategy,...

News

Two U-M students awarded social science research fellowships

Sep 3, 2026

This year, two of the three graduate research fellowships awarded by the Social Science Research Council hailed from the University of Michigan.

(Left to right) Fadilat Olasupo and Margarita Maria Rodriguez Morales.

In the Media

Parthasarathy: Opposition to data centers is accelerating as an election issue

Aug 28, 2026 Gray Broadcasting

Concern about data centers are a proxy for broader concerns about artificial intelligence and inequality and that the issue may drive some voters to the polls, according to Ford School professor Shobita Parthasarathy.

News

Shobita Parthasarathy named president-elect of Society for Social Studies of Science

Jul 31, 2026

Shobita Parthasarathy has been elected incoming president-elect of the Society for Social Studies of Science, an international nonprofit association for researchers in science and technology studies.

News

Parthasarathy comments on new White House science report

Jul 24, 2026

Shobita Parthasarathy comments on a new White House report that calls for academic research dollars to go to tech and artificial intelligence companies despite the public's distrust.

In the Media

Administration rules on research put innovation at risk - Parthasarathy

Jun 12, 2026 Bloomberg

The Trump administration is pushing changes to rules that govern how federal agencies distribute funding, which could permanently politicize research in the US.

In the Media

Green: "Antagonism toward data centers is real and organic"

Jun 10, 2026 Fortune

Amid allegations of Chinese interference in the data center debate, Ben Green argues that the increased negative public attitude surrounding them is real and organic.

In the Media

State governments are experimenting with AI introduction - Kleinman

May 22, 2026 Michigan Advance

STPP Managing Director Molly Kleinman says state governments don't have clear guidelines on using AI.

Publication

Parthasarathy proposes people-first technology regulation

May 21, 2026

Shobita Parthasarathy publishes her third column in Science, “'Sacrifice subjects' and a proposal for people-first technology regulation."

A person gesturing while speaking at a podium in front of a blackboard, in a lecture hall.

Policy Matters

Featured Fordie: Tanasorn (Wave) Junkrapor (MPP '26)

Apr 8, 2026

Tansaorn (Wave) Junkrapor (MPP ‘26) shares how working for Thailand’s Department of Local Administration taught him that effective policy comes from listening to the people it impacts, and how he’s now focused on using data to make AI work for vulner...

News

Innovation as a force for equity

Mar 27, 2026

In an essay published in Issues in Science and Technology, Shobita Parthasarathy on the current lack of equity in science and innovation and argues that, to change this, "society needs to think differently about expertise, innovation itself, and syst...

News

Green shares data center concerns with Michigan lawmakers

Feb 15, 2026

The Ford School's Ben Green testified before members of Michigan's House Subcommittee on Oversight regarding the anticipated impacts data centers will have on Michiganders. Various networks have covered Green's expertise on this issue.

Policy Matters

STPP’s Experiential Learning opportunity spotlights how science and technology policies can uplift the Michigan consumer

Feb 13, 2026

Students Henry Smith (BA '27) and Aanvi Arora (BA '27) discuss their experiences working with State Representative Jason Morgan's office through STPP's Experiential Learning opportunity

News

Shobita Parthasarathy on how to repair trust in science

Jan 26, 2026

In her second column for Science Magazine, Ford School Professor Shobita Parthasarathy argues that rather than treating the growing crisis of public trust as an information and communication problem, we should treat it as an innovation and expertise ...

In the Media

Kleinman comments on DPD use of ShotSpotter

Dec 16, 2025 Michigan Advance

Molly Kleinman comments on the Detroit Police Department use of ShotSpotter

In the Media

Green addresses data center forum

Dec 4, 2025 Michigan Advance

Ford School professor Ben Green addressed citizen concerns about data centers at a forum in Howell, Michigan

In the Media

Kleinman outlines potential effects of data centers

Dec 3, 2025 Michigan Advance

Molly Kleinman, managing director of the Science, Technology, and Public policy program, outlines the potential harmful environmental effects of data centers.

News

Green discusses local impacts of data centers

Nov 30, 2025

Ford School professor Ben Green's research on the impacts of data centers recently caught the eye of Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection, which asked him to deliver a presentation on the topic to its Citizens Advisory Council on Nov...

Policy Matters

Student curated programming to meet the moment

Nov 24, 2025

CRJ's Katrina Hamann recaps the the three-part "Let's Unpack That" series hosted by the Center for Racial Justice. Drawing on student feedback, the series focused on immigration policy, AI policy, and election policy.

students and community members gathered in the trotter multicultural center for unpacking immigration policy

In the Media

Green comments on community push-back on data centers

Oct 29, 2025 Gizmodo

“I don’t think that the case is super compelling for what these data centers are bringing to the table,” Ben Green, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, told Gizmodo. “And I think that is borne out by just how...

News

Discussing "Competing energy futures" at the Ford School

Oct 26, 2025

Decarbonization initiatives and renewable energy investments are compatible with the massive new energy requirements of the data center age, according to a panel of experts who spoke at the Ford School. What is needed is government policy that can gu...

News

Hassan’s summer fieldwork explores politics and practice of AI development in Africa

Oct 17, 2025

Building on his long-term research on technology and decolonialization, Yousif Hassan's summer fieldwork examined the politics of AI and international development in Africa, with a focus on local agency, imagination, and innovation.

News

MiST fellowship brings science research to the Statehouse

Oct 10, 2025

The new Michigan Science, Technology, and Public Policy (MiST) fellowship program will provide lawmakers and state agencies with dedicated, in-house science advice to support evidence-based policy starting in summer 2026.

Michigan State Capitol is the legislative government of Michigan State, at 100 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, Michigan MI, USA.

Publication

Owen-Smith presents alternative research methods for measuring AI’s economic impact

Oct 9, 2025

Policymakers do not have the data they need to fully understand AI’s impact on the U.S. economy, labor force, and industries. Jason Owen-Smith and experts from across the U.S. address this gap in a new policy report from AEI.

Publication

Shobita Parthasarathy’s “Expert Voices” column in Science: Beware the drive to scale technology

Sep 19, 2025

Ford School Professor Shobita Parthasarathy has been invited to serve as an “Expert Voices” columnist for Science over the next two years. Read her inaugural column, “Beware the drive to scale technology.”

News

Kleinman gives keynote on AI regulation at Michigan civil rights forum

Aug 6, 2025

Molly Kleinman delivered the keynote address at “Local and State Government in the Age of AI: Innovation, Civil Rights, and Policy,” a forum hosted by the Michigan Council on Government and Education on July 16. The event brought together leaders fro...

molly kleinman speaking on AI regulation at Michigan civil rights forum