The Summer Midpoint Issue
Fellows meet with the White House OSTP, fall fellow applications open, and more!
Welcome back to the August edition of the Paragon Policy Fellowship newsletter! Here’s what the team has been up to since our last issue:
🚨 Paragon Fall Fellowship and Board Applications! 🚨
White House OSTP Event Recap
Fellow Spotlight
Tech Policy Reading List
Job / Opportunity Board
If there are topics you would covered in future newsletters or have an opportunity for us to publicize, let us know via this feedback form! 📝
Fall 2024 Fellowship & Board Applications Now Open! 📣
For readers who have not yet joined Paragon as a fellow, our fall fellowship is now accepting applications! Apply to become a Fall 2024 Paragon Policy Fellow and work at the forefront of tech policy with state and local governments.
Applications are open at this link until September 5th! Visit paragonfellowship.org to learn more. Not only will fellows get to work on one-of-a-kind projects with government partners, they will gain access to various internal opportunities and a lasting alumni network of tech policy aficionados. Be sure to tell any other college students who may be interested!
For those who are more interested in joining the organizing side, Paragon is now accepting board applications for design and tech dev roles! Apply here also by September 5th (applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.)
Curious to learn more? Here's an insider's perspective from one of our board members, Gurman Dhaliwal:
“Hi everyone! I’m Gurman, I recently graduated from the University of California, San Diego where I studied Data Science. Throughout undergrad, I worked in data roles at the City of San Diego, at the U.S. Census as a Coding it Forward fellow, and as a research assistant at the Center for Peace and Security Studies and at the OpenDP lab at Harvard.
I joined Paragon because there are few tech policy opportunities and this was exactly the kind of program that I would have pursued in college if it was available. As Partnerships Director, I create and maintain our relationships with governments and scope our projects. I’ve learned a lot about project management during my time at Paragon, but I’m most glad I got to be a part of the community of students, all eager to make a tangible impact in this evolving intersection of tech policy.”
Best of luck with applications and we can’t wait to get to know you! 🍀
Special Event Brief 🏛️
Present Meets Future: Paragon Fellows Catch a Glimpse of Life as a White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Staffer
Summer cohort Paragon fellows talk projects, careers, and research interests with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Technology Team
On Monday, August 5, spring and summer Paragon fellows received a special chance to attend a one-on-one session with members of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) Technology Team. At this meeting, fellows introduced themselves, presented their projects, and learned about OSTP employees’ career journeys.
Like the fellows, the diversity in backgrounds of the White House OSTP became a highlight of this convening. Some staffers began their tech policy journeys at a global level, developing international technical standards for web accessibility, while others began their career journeys as U.S. Digital Corp Fellows or in private sector roles.
Fellow Spotlights 🎙️
We’re beyond excited to spotlight accomplished fellows from past cohorts, deep-diving into their tech policy journeys with Paragon and beyond! Learn about what Spring Cohort San José Government fellow Isabelle Anzabi has been up to and her biggest takeaways as a Paragon fellow.
San José Fellow Combines Study of Digital Governance with Legal Frameworks to Investigate Ethical Implications of Technology
From Oxford to San José, recent Stanford graduate Isabelle Anzabi applies her global learning experiences to local AI justice projects
Attending school at the heart of Silicon Valley, it may be unexpected that Isabelle Anzabi initially became interested in technology policy thousands of miles abroad. The recent Stanford graduate marked the Digital Era Governance tutorial she took her junior year spring at the University of Oxford as the start of her tech-focused law and policy journey.
“It was the first time I read so many research papers on the topic,” the political science major recalled, citing readings she did on “current digital tech issues, how current policy and governance systems bolster inequities, and how [tech inequity] gaps can be resolved.”
Tech Policy Reading List 📚
The Hill: What the heck is the Global Digital Compact and why is it so important?
The Markup: Everyone Is Judging AI by These Tests. But Experts Say They’re Close to Meaningless
MIT Technology Review: We need to prepare for ‘addictive intelligence’
Reuters: US court blocks Biden administration net neutrality rules
BBC: AI took their jobs. Now they get paid to make it sound human
The New York Times: The Data That Powers A.I. Is Disappearing Fast
MIT Technology Review: AI companies promised to self-regulate one year ago. What’s changed?
All Tech is Human: Summer 2024 Responsible Tech Reading List
Opportunity Board 💡
The Paragon Policy Fellowship has opened for its Fall Fellowship cohort! Learn more and apply here by September 5.
UNESCO is hosting a youth hackathon for Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Learn more and submit your application here by August 26.
The Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program is now open for applications! Learn more and apply here by September 9.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) seeks remote contract Cybersecurity Consultants. Learn more and apply here by December 31.
The U.S. Climate Alliance under the United Nations Foundation seeks a remote fall 2024 Programs & Analysis Intern. Learn more and apply here.
— Contributed by Kaitlyn Cui, Carolyn Wang, and Sofia Rodriguez. Thanks for reading until the end! Have feedback or newsletter ideas? Fill out this form, and we’ll get back to you!
TIP: Remember to follow Paragon on LinkedIn to keep up with our latest happenings!
