Ruinous EdTech – higher education and computing's excesses: Colm O’Neill AbstractDespite the illusions of sleek and seamless UI design practices, contemporary digital technology is characterised by excesses. The infrastructure of modern computing and software services are environmentally damaging and their requirements are increasing exponentially. The environmental impact of data centres, through their immense hardware requirements, ruinous mineral extraction, and their substantial resource consumption – water, electricity, and ‘backup power’ fossil fuels – is putting immense pressure on basic utilities for communities across the world.Through the lens of decolonial computing, this presentation questions the methods of the digital technology vendors that make up Ireland's imported economy. Alongside ecological impact and labour exploitation, the outsourcing and procurement of software in and for higher education is called into particular question. Ideas stemming from permacomputing and digital degrowth emerge as vital alternatives, advocating for reasonable and responsible computing practices that challenge existing configurations and foster oppositional knowledge.Ultimately, these excesses of modern computing highlight the need to rethink the role of higher education, review digital citizenship education, question digital sovereignty, and to do so before higher education completes its restructuring as a tool of the earth-scorching internet complex.BioColm O'Neill (he/him) works as designer, researcher and lecturer in Carlow, Ireland. His work is concerned with mediations of digital literacy through graphical, user and programmatic interfaces. His current research foregrounds the ecological impact of the infrastructure of digital technologies. The research and practice that result follow the ideals of free and open-source culture models.Joining informationYou will receive the details to log into the call in a confirmation message from Eventbrite after you have registered successfully. If you don't see that message, please check your spam folder or contact us:MHSES-REI-Events@ed.ac.ukFor any enquiries concerning this event, please email: MHSES-REI-Events@ed.ac.ukPrivacy policy Tags Digital Education Education events Research centres, groups and networks Research events Conferences, seminars and lectures Dec 11 2025 12.00 - 13.00 Ruinous EdTech – higher education and computing's excesses: Colm O’Neill David Overend chairs a presentation in which Colm O'Neill explores the social and environmental impact of digital technologies and what we can do about it. Online (Teams) Book free tickets on Eventbrite
Ruinous EdTech – higher education and computing's excesses: Colm O’Neill AbstractDespite the illusions of sleek and seamless UI design practices, contemporary digital technology is characterised by excesses. The infrastructure of modern computing and software services are environmentally damaging and their requirements are increasing exponentially. The environmental impact of data centres, through their immense hardware requirements, ruinous mineral extraction, and their substantial resource consumption – water, electricity, and ‘backup power’ fossil fuels – is putting immense pressure on basic utilities for communities across the world.Through the lens of decolonial computing, this presentation questions the methods of the digital technology vendors that make up Ireland's imported economy. Alongside ecological impact and labour exploitation, the outsourcing and procurement of software in and for higher education is called into particular question. Ideas stemming from permacomputing and digital degrowth emerge as vital alternatives, advocating for reasonable and responsible computing practices that challenge existing configurations and foster oppositional knowledge.Ultimately, these excesses of modern computing highlight the need to rethink the role of higher education, review digital citizenship education, question digital sovereignty, and to do so before higher education completes its restructuring as a tool of the earth-scorching internet complex.BioColm O'Neill (he/him) works as designer, researcher and lecturer in Carlow, Ireland. His work is concerned with mediations of digital literacy through graphical, user and programmatic interfaces. His current research foregrounds the ecological impact of the infrastructure of digital technologies. The research and practice that result follow the ideals of free and open-source culture models.Joining informationYou will receive the details to log into the call in a confirmation message from Eventbrite after you have registered successfully. If you don't see that message, please check your spam folder or contact us:MHSES-REI-Events@ed.ac.ukFor any enquiries concerning this event, please email: MHSES-REI-Events@ed.ac.ukPrivacy policy Tags Digital Education Education events Research centres, groups and networks Research events Conferences, seminars and lectures Dec 11 2025 12.00 - 13.00 Ruinous EdTech – higher education and computing's excesses: Colm O’Neill David Overend chairs a presentation in which Colm O'Neill explores the social and environmental impact of digital technologies and what we can do about it. Online (Teams) Book free tickets on Eventbrite
Dec 11 2025 12.00 - 13.00 Ruinous EdTech – higher education and computing's excesses: Colm O’Neill David Overend chairs a presentation in which Colm O'Neill explores the social and environmental impact of digital technologies and what we can do about it.
