Results of the Academic Citizens' Assembly-SIC 2025 This report summarizes the process, results, and insights of the Academic Citizens' Assembly (ACA) organized by SIC, EPFL's student-led sustainable innovation challenge (epfl-sic.ch), together with Sascha Nick, on Friday 14.03.2025 in Lausanne.
The Assembly question was “How to ensure technology innovation benefits society?”, specifically: How to ensure technology initiatives contribute to a better society, by:
A. Inspiring learning and collaboration,
B. Phasing out damaging activities, and
C. Ensuring access and benefits for all?
Technology affects every aspect of human society, sometimes beneficially, often at a significant environmental or social cost.
The overall objective was to imagine, reflect, deliberate, and vote on proposals around low-tech and high-tech, rebound effects, impacts on power relations, values, societal engagement, and governance.