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Exploring the
Applications and Implications of
Emerging Technology for
Policy and Society

Technology Rules, but Policy Matters. In Pardee RAND’s Tech + Narrative Lab (TNL), policy analysts can apply new and emerging technologies to study policy problems and create novel policy solutions, as well as understand the policy implications of new and emerging technologies.

The TNL embodies a philosophy of curiosity and experimentation within the broad context of policy analysis and action. Central to these efforts are the ability to effectively communicate complex and rigorous work. The lab also embraces the themes of ethics, social justice, and racial equity, and actively encourages emerging technology experimentation focused on these topics.

Types of Engagements

residencies
hackathons
workshops
experiments
conclave

TNL v2.0 – Grand Challenge Edition

The lab is focusing around three grand challenge areas: disinformation, mixed-up reality, and biorisk. A number of projects are underway, with more work on the horizon. This gives us a different way to think about the intersection of emerging technology and policy, and contextualize it to problems that need attention TODAY.

Find out more about the grand challenges HERE.

the Tech + Narrative Lab team (expanded roster)

Todd Richmond
Director, TNL

Emma Gardner
Administrative Assistant

Jon Welburn
Gaming lead, TNL

Tim Marler
AR/VR lead, TNL

the Tech + Narrative Lab Advisory Group (TNLAG)

Harper Reed

Leslie Saxon, M.D.

Max Kelly

Elizabeth Churchill

John Corrigan

The TNL is more than just a place. It embodies a philosophy of curiosity and experimentation within the broad context of policy analysis and action. The TNL serves as a hub for students and researchers interested in technology issues, as well as a connective tissue between the graduate school, RAND research, and external collaborators, including academia, government, and the private sector. The TNL is all about hands-on work, collaboration, and exploration. It employs the best practices of technology start-ups — rapid prototyping, developing a “minimum viable product,” and iterating. This combines with an ethos of curiosity, exploration, play, learning and growing from failure, and doing rather than just thinking. Finally, narrative is a critical aspect of our work, as we need to be able to clearly and effectively articulate what we did, how we did, and why someone should care.

Pardee RAND is one of the founding members of the Public Interest Technology University Network – PIT-UN.