Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
In this talk, we shall explore the consequences of modern day social media and socio-technical platforms in shaping our sense of what it means to be an autonomous agent. We consider our changing norms around the idea of living an Authentic life, in the midst of social-oppression and techno-political change. We first explore some of the theoretical ideas of Personal Autonomy from fields of Philosophy, Cognitive Neuroscience and Computer Science. Additionally, we explore ways in which Social Oppression impacts an individual's sense of Autonomy to finally determine the responsibility of social-media platforms in protecting the ideals of a secular democratic nation.
Prasanth is currently pursuing his PhD within the Networks Systems Group at the Department of Computer Science, CU Boulder. His research explores the use of formal methods and AI to improve the performance of existing communication and computing system architectures. His primary research interest focuses on the verification and testing of communication protocols. In addition to these, he has worked on problems in Data-center resource allocation, caching strategies in routers and measurement analysis of the Tor-network. Prasanth holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from CU Boulder and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He aspires to contribute to the work of building smart infrastructure-systems while trying to limit the possible harms that the technologies pose to social justice. Apart from the research in computer systems, Prasanth is interested in advocating for science and technology, advocating for ethics in computing, and building diverse and inclusive workspaces. He enjoys reading non-fiction that helps him understand people, society and the impacts of technology on society. His research proposal in this domain titled "Future of the Autonomous Self", was selected as one of the top-100 ideas in the NSF 2026 Idea Challenge.
Additional resources that have been curated by the speaker: docs.google.com/document/d/1kWU_Ew6RjkLslD3NdeP1wX9d3meDXEfMNdaA5KBdNsE/edit?ts=6016db08
If you have any additional questions, comments, or want to find out more about upcoming talks, contact us at: scienceunderthedome@colorado.edu
This virtual series made possible with the support from the CU Office of Outreach and Engagement.
We would like to acknowledge:
University of Colorado Boulder, APS Department
SkySkan Inc. and their amazing software DigitalSky2 that made this possible.
Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | facebook.com/teamfiske
In this talk, we shall explore the consequences of modern day social media and socio-technical platforms in shaping our sense of what it means to be an autonomous agent. We consider our changing norms around the idea of living an Authentic life, in the midst of social-oppression and techno-political change. We first explore some of the theoretical ideas of Personal Autonomy from fields of Philosophy, Cognitive Neuroscience and Computer Science. Additionally, we explore ways in which Social Oppression impacts an individual's sense of Autonomy to finally determine the responsibility of social-media platforms in protecting the ideals of a secular democratic nation.
Prasanth is currently pursuing his PhD within the Networks Systems Group at the Department of Computer Science, CU Boulder. His research explores the use of formal methods and AI to improve the performance of existing communication and computing system architectures. His primary research interest focuses on the verification and testing of communication protocols. In addition to these, he has worked on problems in Data-center resource allocation, caching strategies in routers and measurement analysis of the Tor-network. Prasanth holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from CU Boulder and a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He aspires to contribute to the work of building smart infrastructure-systems while trying to limit the possible harms that the technologies pose to social justice. Apart from the research in computer systems, Prasanth is interested in advocating for science and technology, advocating for ethics in computing, and building diverse and inclusive workspaces. He enjoys reading non-fiction that helps him understand people, society and the impacts of technology on society. His research proposal in this domain titled "Future of the Autonomous Self", was selected as one of the top-100 ideas in the NSF 2026 Idea Challenge.
Additional resources that have been curated by the speaker: docs.google.com/document/d/1kWU_Ew6RjkLslD3NdeP1wX9d3meDXEfMNdaA5KBdNsE/edit?ts=6016db08
If you have any additional questions, comments, or want to find out more about upcoming talks, contact us at: scienceunderthedome@colorado.edu
This virtual series made possible with the support from the CU Office of Outreach and Engagement.
We would like to acknowledge:
University of Colorado Boulder, APS Department
SkySkan Inc. and their amazing software DigitalSky2 that made this possible.
Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | facebook.com/teamfiske
