Notre Dame Institute for Ethics and the Common Good

09/10/2026

Many of us know the biblical Parable of the Good Samaritan, but do you know what it can teach us about caring for others today?

Speaking at the 2026 Thomas H. Lake Lecture at IU Indianapolis, ECG Director Meghan Sullivan explored the story through the choices of the Samaritan, the Levite, and the Innkeeper, breaking down the ethical frameworks each embodies.

Thank you to the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy for hosting the conversation and for joining us in thinking deeply about what it means to love humanity.

Watch the full replay of the lecture, "The Samaritan, the Levite, and the Innkeeper: Three Approaches to the Ethics of Philanthropy," ▶️ https://go.nd.edu/6e94c3

📸 Photos by Marc Lebryk

09/08/2026

Applications are open: Let’s bring your course idea to life. 💡 📚

The Institute invites proposals from faculty members interested in developing Signature Courses that help students grapple with fundamental questions of meaning and purpose in light of AI and other emerging technologies.

Funding is available for a stipend, course development, and an undergraduate intern.

Applications close November 15.

Apply today:

Apply by Nov 15, 2026! The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good invites faculty proposals for new Signature Courses exploring AI and human flourishing.

09/04/2026

The Institute just grew 14 ethics researchers stronger! 💪

We are SO happy to introduce the Notre Dame sophomore students joining the Undergraduate Ethics Research Fellowship program.

Joining 26 returning fellows, this talented cohort will dig into a big research question that intersects with their chosen field of study and ethics.

Get to know the fellows, and explore the ERF program 🔗 https://go.nd.edu/578480

09/01/2026

What do we owe each other as humans?

It’s a question we think about A LOT here at the Institute.

In the season premiere of TED Intersections, ECG Director Meghan Sullivan sat down with space architect Ariel Ekblaw from the MIT Media Lab to explore the answers.

Check out the full episode here: https://go.nd.edu/e645c0

08/31/2026

Call for applications! Faculty across all disciplines interested in pursuing research on ethics and human formation in the age of AI or the intersection of love and ethics are invited to apply for 2027-28 on-campus fellowships. Includes up to $80,000 in funding, subsidized housing, and a research allowance.

Applications due by October 26.

Apply Now ➡️

We are seeking up to five scholars to join a vibrant, interdisciplinary cohort dedicated to advancing research on DELTA, a faith-based ethical framework to powerful AI rooted in enduring Christian values: Dignity, Embodiment, Love, Transcendence, and Agency.

08/29/2026

"Just about every teacher I know has this feeling of joy and anticipation about opening a new year. But this August, that joy comes with a powerful undercurrent of anxiety about AI’s growing presence in the classroom. "

ECG Director Meghan Sullivan has been on the road, traveling Indiana's Highway 31 to speak at four colleges over two weeks. Her latest Substack offers three of her spiciest DELTA-informed takes on preserving the dignity of learning and AI's place in our syllabi and classrooms.

Read the full post:

Field Notes from Four Indiana Colleges (and Notre Dame)

08/27/2026

A masterclass on masterclasses + the silliest scavenger hunt + top-tier team bonding + plenty of ethical inquiry = ECG Orientation ‘26!

We spent three days welcoming our new cohort of fellows, program chairs, and graduate students to campus and the Institute community.

Big things are ahead for this group, and we’re so glad to have you along for the journey.

08/26/2026

“We can’t let new technology override moral wisdom.”

In a recent article for America Magazine - The Jesuit Review, University President Fr. Bob Dowd reflects on Pope Leo’s encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas," highlighting the essential role of the humanities in Catholic education to help students navigate what it truly means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence.

Read the full article:

Catholic universities must redouble efforts to help students understand what it means to be truly human, and what qualities cannot be replaced by A.I.

08/25/2026

This time of year is full of introductions, invitations, and setting the tone for what’s to come. Whether you’re an educator, a student, or simply a lifelong learner, we want to help you kick off the academic year on the right foot.

The “Invitation to Learn” from scholar and frequent DELTA collaborator Lily Abadal is just the tool for that! It’s a thoughtful and personalizable way to welcome students into the hard, messy, and rewarding work of growing in understanding.

Check out the tool and read more on Substack:

Start your school year off with an invitation.

08/24/2026

Reunited and it feels so good! 🍎 📚

Happy first day of class, Irish. Wishing you all a wonderful start to the school year. ☘️