Shaping Tomorrow: Introducing the University of Oregon’s IF Lab

by Alex Murray

As a kid, I started countless sentences with the following two words: what if.

What if we could talk to animals?

What if we could breathe underwater?

What if we could fly?

What if we lived in a world with no rules?

Fast forward a few decades. The what ifs have largely subsided. In their place: structure, routines, to-do lists, and tasks. Even as a researcher, privileged to ask questions for a living, the beauty of pondering what if often gets relegated to a faraway back burner.

Yet what if it wasn’t this way? What if we created a space where curiosity — as a lifelong process — is an active pursuit? What if we took the time — intentionally, thoughtfully, inquisitively — to again ask what if?

University of Oregon’s IF Lab

The University of Oregon’s IF Lab is a dedicated space for researchers, students, and community partners to come together to explore novel technologies, innovate responsibly, and guide technological adoption in ways that benefit humanity. At the IF Lab, we are committed to critically examining emerging technologies not in isolation, but within their social, ethical, and cultural contexts. The IF Lab provides a place to invent, imagine, and innovate a more intelligent future.

The IF Lab’s mission centers on three interconnected pillars. First, we advance research on emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain. Our work explores not only the capabilities of these technologies, but how they can be developed to address pressing societal challenges. Second, we foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The complexity of emerging technologies demands diverse perspectives — from computer scientists and engineers to ethicists, sociologists, legal scholars, and others. By bringing diverse voices together, we seek to generate more nuanced understandings and more robust solutions. Third, we promote ethical, responsible, and inclusive innovation. At the IF Lab, we believe technology does not inherently reinforce existing inequalities or create new vulnerabilities. We instead seek to understand how technology can expand human potential and be accessible to all.

Emerging technologies like AI and blockchain offer both transformative opportunities and serious risks from economic growth and societal innovation to job loss, surveillance, and inequality. Understanding this dual impact is a societal necessity, not just an academic one.

The IF Lab invites students, faculty, and community members to explore and shape this evolving landscape. Whether through research, policy, entrepreneurship, or public dialogue, we can help ensure that technology serves the public good and drives meaningful change at the University of Oregon and beyond.

As technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace, our work is driven by a clear mission: to advance knowledge, foster integrity, and empower responsible innovation. Our vision is ambitious: a future where emerging technologies are developed and deployed ethically, inclusively, and for the benefit of all. By studying technology’s impact on organizations and society, we do more than anticipate challenges — we help create solutions that will define our collective future. We look forward to working with you to build a more just, equitable, and intelligent tomorrow.

For more information about the University of Oregon’s IF Lab, our projects, and opportunities to ask what if with us, please visit www.uoiflab.org.

Inquisitively,

Alex Murray

Director, IF Lab