The Center for Research in Computation and Society was founded to develop a new generation of ideas and technologies designed to address some of society’s most vexing problems. The Center brings computer scientists together with economists, psychologists, legal scholars, ethicists, neuroscientists, and other academic colleagues across the University and throughout the world, to address fundamental computational problems that cross disciplines, and to create new technologies informed by societal constraints to address those problems.

Research initiatives that have been launched throughout industry and academia study the intersection of technology and society in two distinct manners: they investigate the effects of information technology on society or study ways to use existing technologies to solve societal problems. The approach of the Harvard Center for Research in Computation and Society is unique in its forward-looking scope and integrative approach, supporting research on innovative computer science and technology informed by societal effects, not merely examining the effects of existing technology on society.

Harvard University provides the ideal venue for this cross-disciplinary research initiative because of the strength and depth of the faculty across schools and academic disciplines. The Computer Science Program at Harvard comprises world-class teams of researchers in artificial intelligence, cryptography and algorithms, learning theory, systems (including networks, databases, programming languages, and operating systems), and computational economics. The Center’s intellectual scope is broadened and strengthened through participation by faculty and associates across Harvard, including the economics, government, and psychology departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Law School, Kennedy School of Government, and Business School.

The activities of the Center in any given year revolve around one or more focus areas. For the past few years, we have had a focus area in Privacy and Security.

A complete list of participants is available here.