Interdisciplinary Anniversary Conference: "Data Society" – Society in the Age of Digitalization

Conference on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Paderborn University

From Tuesday, September 20, to Thursday, September 22, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Paderborn University invites everyone to the scientific conference "Data Society. Opportunity - Innovation - Responsibility". In line with the anniversary motto "Celebrating the future", lectures, discussion rounds and a poster session will be devoted to the challenges and opportunities of the digital transformation in various areas of our society. The interdisciplinary conference was conceived with the participation of all five faculties. University president Prof. Dr. Birgitt Riegraf will open the program, which will take place in lecture hall L1, at 9.15 a.m. on September 20. On the second day of the event, participants will move to the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum (HNF) after the lunch break, where the 2G rule will apply. Registrations are possible until Tuesday, September 13. The complete program and registration options, also for individual event days, are available on the anniversary website.
 
Digital technologies have become an indispensable part of today's world: automated vehicles, smart watches, intelligent production processes. But how can we understand decisions made by machines controlled by artificial intelligence? How do we deal with it when technology begins to create art? Where can power be saved for more computing capacity? Will machines replace human labor in the future? And what happens to our data? The conference participants will get to the bottom of these and many other questions. Scientists from Paderborn, Aachen, Berlin, Bielefeld, Essen, Detmold, Jena, Mannheim, Munich, Oldenburg and Vienna will provide insights into the current state of research. "Science thrives on exchange, especially across disciplinary boundaries. I look forward to exciting impulses and lively discussions," says the university president.

Keynote lectures and panel discussion with experts
 

In addition to numerous discussion rounds and presentations, each day of the event will feature a keynote lecture in which renowned guest speakers will highlight a selected aspect of their field. On Tuesday, September 20, Prof. Dr. Susanne Boll from the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Oldenburg will speak about "People at the Center of the Digital Society". Prof. Dr. Dieter Kranzlmüller from the Leibniz Computing Center of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities will focus on "The Future of Supercomputing: Saving Power for More Computing Power" on Wednesday, September 21. In a subsequent panel discussion, different disciplines at the University of Paderborn will discuss their perspectives on the future of computing. "Digital Ethics" is the topic of Prof. Dr. Sarah Spiekermann-Hoff, professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, on Thursday, September 22.

Evening event at the HNF
 

In the run-up to the conference, young researchers from various faculties in Paderborn have already created posters to illustrate the future topics they are researching in the context of "Data Society". At an evening event in the HNF on Wednesday, September 21, starting at 6 p.m., they will present their results and will be available for an exchange with the participants of the conference. Prof. Dr. Johannes Blömer, Vice President for Research and Young Scientists at Paderborn University, will award prizes to the best three posters during the evening.