Our Teams

During the school year, PInT members have the opportunity to join student-led teams to work on various semester-long PIT projects. These projects help students gain interdisciplinary skills and real world experience in fields such as education, mechanical engineering, software engineering, user-oriented design, and more.

Community Knights

Developing a system to faciliate safe, reliable, and coordinated transportation for the elderly and those with cognitive or developmental disabilities.

Hydroponics

The Hydroponics team is actively working on an innovative project to enhance environmental efficiency and community involvement on the Olin campus.

Out Maine

Creating an interactive educational online game which introduces and shares the LGBTQ+ experience to foster better understanding and empathy.

BFFC

Researching solar panel systems and recommending a plan for installing a solar-powered electrical and irrigation system at the BFFC Maple Street Site.

What is Public Interest Technology?

Public Interest Technology (PIT) is an emerging field focusing on educating engineers, designers, computer and data scientists, and others to work in service of the public good.

Public interest technologists apply their technical knowledge and understanding of its social and political implications to promote the general public.

"Public interest technology refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest/generate public benefits/promote the public good."

- Defining Public Interest Technology from New America

PIT-UN

Olin is a founding member of the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN), a major initiative led by New America, the Ford Foundation, and the Hewlett Foundation.

"The Public Interest Technology University Network is a partnership that fosters collaboration between universities and colleges committed to building the nascent field of public interest technology and growing a new generation of civic-minded technologists. Through the development of curricula, research agendas, and experiential learning programs in the public interest technology space, these universities are trying innovative tactics to produce graduates with multiple fluencies at the intersection of technology and policy. By joining PIT-UN, members commit to field building on campus."

- New America

Get Invovled!

Join us in building a supportive community at Olin College that provides opportunities to engage with and talk about PIT.

We are PInT!

PInT is the student-run public interest technology (PIT) organization at Olin College of Engineering