2018 Ethics Competition

2018 Student Competition Winners

(Winners, (left to right) Fiona Sequeira 2nd Place, Jacqueline Orr 1st Place, Rashi Chaudhary 3rd Place, Kermit Franklin 1st Place and David Newman 2nd Place)

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Neely Center's USC Student Ethics Competition: Towards an Ethically Sensitive Society. The winners were presented with their prizes by Neely Center Director Professor Ali Abbas and Katharine Harrington, Vice President of Admissions and Planning, at the center's Next Generation Ethics Conference held at USC's Town & Gown ballroom.

1st Place ($3000) - Driving the Future: Carmakers' Quandary with Automated Vehicles, Jacqueline Orr

2nd Place ($2000) (Tie) - When Eliminating Bias Isn't Fair: Analytics, Algorithms, and Procedural Justice, David Newman

2nd Place ($2000) (Tie) Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: A Procreative Right or Responsibility? Fiona Sequeira

3rd Place ($2000) (Tie) How Ethics bias in Corporate Sustainability Reporting Protects Firms From Being Accountable for Negative Environmental Impacts, Rashi Chaudhary

3rd Place ($2000) (Tie) Removing Confederate Monuments, The Ethical Debate, Kermit Franklin

You can read more about the competition below. You can watch videos from the entrants by clicking here.

Highlights of the 2018 Competition

USC STUDENT COMPETITION: TOWARDS AN ETHICALLY SENSITIVE SOCIETY

First prize $3000 , Second Prize $2000, Third Prize $1000

The inaugural Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making USC Student Ethics Competition Towards and Ethically Sensitive Society is open to all USC students. To download a flyer on the competition click here.

COMPETITION TIMELINE

September 1, 2017   Competition Announced

Submissions were invited in all areas of ethics and decision making including, but not limited to:

•         The intersection of technology and society
•         Business ethics
•         Public policy ethics
•         Personal and societal ethics

Submissions could be in the form of a written article, a presentation, or video. Submission themes included:

•         A case study exhibiting a real life decision that involves trade-offs and an ethical dilemma,
•         Reflections on what comprises an ethically sensitive decision culture and the impediments/ inducers of ethical behavior
•         Fairness and equity issues with ethical implications
•         Unanticipated ethical considerations revolving around the future of technology

A distinguished panel of judges from USC and industry will evaluate the submissions and select the finalists and the winners. Finalists will present in our annual Next Generation Ethics Conference, March 30, 2017

September 22, 2017   Daily Trojan Reports on Competition

The Daily Trojan published an article on the Neely Center Competition including an interview with Neely Center director Professor Abbas

To read the article click here

October 6, 2017   Students Meet With Professor Abbas

Professor Abbas gave students an introduction to decisions and ethics and an overview of the Neely Center ethics competition

October 25 & 26, 2017   Students Film Videos Explaining Competition Entries

Students discussed their projects for a video that will be featured on this site and also at our Next Generation Ethics Conference, March 30, 2018

November 15, 2017   Deadline for Initial Drafts

November 15, 2017   Competition Featured in BBC Interview

Professor Abbas discussed the Neely Center competition during an in-studio interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. To listen to the interview click here. Interview begins at 1.16

November 29, 2017   Competition Entrants Dine With USC Trustee Jerry Neely

Students met with USC Trustee Jerry Neely and Professor Abbas at a special dinner to discuss their competition submissions and get feedback and advice

January 19, 2018   Guest Speaker: Stephen Byars

Stephen Byars, Associate Professor of Clinical Business Communication at the USC Marshall School of Business shared insights into examining ethical issues with the students who entered the Neely Center competition. To read more about Professor Byars click here

January 26, 2018   Guest Speaker: Naj Meshkati

Professor Naj Meshkati, an expert in workplace safety and accidents, shared his experience confronting important ethical dilemmas with students in a special lecture. To read more about Professor Meshkati click here

January 29, 2018   Student Videos Posted Online

To watch students discuss their competition entries click here

February 21 & 22, 2018   Students Film New Competition Videos

MARCH 1, 2018 - SUBMISSION OF FINAL DRAFT

MARCH 30, 2018  NEXT GENERATION ETHICS CONFERENCE - ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS

To read more about the conference click here