Fri, 02/26/2021

On this episode we discuss the recent Texas power grid failure during the record cold temperatures in mid-February. We’ll be talking to Lynne Kiesling, who has been studying energy regulation for two decades about what happened and where to go from here. This is the latest in the “just-in-time” series of episodes on recent news, we call TR/∂T. Shout out to the math fans who appreciate our fleeting calculus humor. Everyone else, happy googling.

Mon, 02/22/2021

Facial recognition software is now widely used and available, from schools, to our workplaces, to our personal devices. It is so pervasive that many states, including Nebraska, have or are working on legislation to try to guide its usage, including in some cases banning its use outright. This episode was prompted by a question from a listener, Danielle Conrad, the executive director of the Nebraska ACLU who joins us to introduce the this topic. We also welcome Elana Zeide and Woody Hartzog back to the show.

Tue, 02/16/2021

In this episode we’re discussing CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), which is a gene editing tool that acts like a pair of molecular scissors, capable of cutting strands of DNA. CRISPR technology is a simple but extremely powerful tool for editing genomes. It allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function. It should go without saying, this is equal parts very cool and very scary. The episode is cohosted by Christal Sheppard, distinguished fellow at the Nebraska Governance and Technology Center, and Inaugural Director of the Midwest Regional Office of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and guests, Jacob S. Sherkow, Professor of Law at the University of Illinois, and Samantha Zyontz, Fellow at the Center for law and the Biosciences and Research Fellow of Intellectual Property at Stanford Law School.

Tue, 02/09/2021

Even if you’re not a very “online” type of person, you’ve probably heard about Robinhood, GameStop, and cryptocurrencies in the news. On that extremely hot topic, we have a special episode of Tech Refactored today, which we’re calling a TR/∂T episode. Shout out to the math fans who understand derivatives, and for the finance folks who will get the triple entendre. Everyone else, happy googling. These episodes are informal explorations into current hot issues - so what else could we be talking about today? That’s right, we’re talking stonks, with Nebraska Law Professor James Tierney.

Wed, 01/20/2021

Multi-year water deficits and compound events leading to unexpected water surpluses have led to multi-billion-dollar losses in states around the U.S., and this is becoming the norm worldwide. Those losses highlight the vulnerability of our infrastructure to extreme climate events.  Historic approaches to regulation are not easy to change and as more and more weather events occur due to climate change, some advocates are suggesting that laws need to be more flexible and adaptable. In this episode we ask "what the heck is water law" and how it is changing as our world does?

Tue, 01/12/2021

The ongoing pandemic brought many technical challenges into the spotlight, perhaps none more than educational technology and student privacy. The shift from traditional school to remote learning and teaching is riddled with digital privacy concerns, and the intersections of race, class, and technology-access amplify these issues. Elana Zeide, Anisha Reddy, Jim Siegl, Chris Gilliard, and Bill Fitzgerald join us for a dive into student privacy and online proctoring in the era of 'Zoom School.'

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Wed, 12/16/2020

Our Center studies the intersection of law and technology, but what does that really mean? Over two episodes of Tech Refactored we asked six scholars writing in this area to give us their take. In the first episode in this two-part series we asked, ‘What is Law?’ and ‘What is Technology?’ This, our second episode on the subject, builds on that discussion to ask what we are doing when we are studying law and technology. Does the field stand alone as its own discipline? Does it have its own methodologies?” Be sure to check out all the guest's posts on The Record.

Download an mp3 of this episode by visiting our Media Hub page.

Wed, 12/16/2020

We study the intersection of law and technology, but that begs the question - what do we mean when we say law and technology? Over the next two episodes of Tech Refactored we’ve asked six scholars writing in this area to give us their take. The first episode in this two-part series asks ‘What is Law? What is Technology? ZOMG What is Law and Technology?’ and if that sounds like it’s going to get esoteric, it’s because it is. Note, the acronym STS used frequently in this episode refers to "Science and Technology Studies." Be sure to check out all the guest's posts on The Record.

Download an mp3 of this episode by visiting our Media Hub page.

Fri, 12/04/2020

In this episode of Tech Refactored we discuss the state of the digital divide with expert commentary from Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow at Governance Studies, and Director of the Center for Technology Innovation; and Christopher Yoo, John H. Chestnut Professor of Law, Communication, and Computer & Information Science; Director, Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition. Check out ngtc.unl.edu for more information on Tech Refactored and the Nebraska Governance and Technology Center.

Download an mp3 of this episode by visiting our Media Hub page.

Mon, 11/09/2020

In this episode of Tech Refactored we discuss lab-grown meat from four different perspectives: legal, engineering, social, and marketing. Can a steak be grown in a lab? What about a filet mignon? Tune in and find out!

Download an mp3 of this episode by visiting our Media Hub page.