MIT Student Wins Computing Prize for Essay on Healthcare Technology Disparities
Annaliese Meyer, a PhD candidate in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography and Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, has won the Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize for her thought-provoking essay on the potential downsides of advanced healthcare technology. Meyer’s winning paper, titled “(Pre/Sub)scribe,” explores how a revolutionary new health-care technology could end up causing more harm than good for vulnerable patients when implemented with a subscription-based pay model.
Meyer’s essay is written in the form of speculative fiction, chronicling the usage of “B-Bots,” a synthetic bacterial mimic designed to regulate gut biomes and activated by Bluetooth. The story follows both the creator of B-Bots and a user named Briar, who celebrates the positive effects of the supplement on their vitamin deficiencies and chronic conditions. However, Meyer highlights how the introduction of a subscription model for B-Bots could jeopardize treatment for those who cannot afford it, exacerbating existing health care disparities.
The essay was inspired by Meyer’s own experiences with different healthcare systems, having grown up in Canada and being aware of the differences between the U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems. She recounts her mother’s recent cancer treatments, emphasizing the cost and coverage differences between British Columbia and the U.S.
The Envisioning the Future of Computing Prize, co-sponsored by the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) initiative and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (SHASS), attracted 65 submissions from undergraduate and graduate students across various majors. A committee of faculty members reviewed the essays anonymously before selecting three finalists, who presented their work at a live awards ceremony in early May.
Meyer’s win comes with a $10,000 grand prize, and she was recognized alongside two runners-up and eight honorable mentions. The contest aims to encourage MIT students to think about the broader implications of their work in computing and its potential impact on society.
