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Science & AI: Legal & Ethical Challenges (LAWS90203)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
July
Lecturer
Dr Michael Wildenauer (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | July |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Learning in this subject is based around the examination of a number of use-cases for AI in the sciences, including such applications as data analytics, modelling, scientific discoveries and therapeutic devices. After conversations covering preliminary material on AI, Ethics, Law and Human Rights, these use-cases will be employed as basis for investigating the issues with particularly relevant themes drawn from the broader thematic domains.
Themes to be covered include those of
- Trust
- Accountability, Transparency & Explainability
- Beneficence & Non-maleficence
- Fairness & Justice
- Autonomy
- Licensing
- Liability
- Privacy
- Legal Personality
- Regulatory approval
These themes will be applied to various applications of AI in the sciences, which could include for example, therapeutic zoomorphic robots in aged care, surveillance systems to prevent poaching, analysis of data derived from large scale sensor deployment for measuring pedestrian flow, weather modelling, 'lab in a box', and discovery of novel materials.
The subject is suitable for those with either science, quantitative, or legal backgrounds, with pre-class reading required both to promote the richest possible discussions during class contact time, and to address understanding of fundamental concepts for students of various backgrounds.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students will:
- have an advanced understanding of the ethical and regulatory challenges raised by the design, deployment and evaluation of automated decision-making technologies in both public and private sector contexts;
- have a sophisticated understanding of established ethical theories relevant to AI and similar digital technologies, and be able to critically examine, analyse and apply ethical perspectives in responding to the development and proposed uses of new digital technologies in scientific and other domains;
- have the advanced and integrated skills to be an informed and engaged participant in important debates concerning the ethics of utilising digital technologies and the legal rights of those impacted by them;
- have a sophisticated appreciation of the current legal environment with respect to AI, and of possible legal responses to emerging uses of AI ; and
- have a demonstrated capacity to use the knowledge and skills gained in the subject in a way that demonstrates effective autonomy, judgment, adaptability and responsibility as an expert learner in navigating and resolving the ethical and legal challenges raised by the design, deployment, and evaluation of artificial intelligence systems.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
The subject is suitable for those with either science, quantitative, or legal backgrounds, with pre-class reading required both to promote the richest possible discussions during class contact time, and to address understanding of fundamental concepts for students of various backgrounds.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Class activities
| During the teaching period | 15% |
Online quiz
| After Day 3. Available Friday pm, to be completed by Sunday 11:55pm | 10% |
Essay on a topic agreed with the subject coordinator
| 17 August 2022 | 75% |
Hurdle requirement: Attendance at a minimum of 75% of classes is required | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- July
Coordinator Michael Wildenauer Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 15 June 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 11 July 2022 to 15 July 2022 Last self-enrol date 20 June 2022 Census date 14 July 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 July 2022 Assessment period ends 17 August 2022 July contact information
Lecturer
Dr Michael Wildenauer (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled students in relevant Law or Science Graduate Diploma and Masters courses with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024