The Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society is organizing its sixth annual conference on the subject of ‘Uncertain journeys into digital futures: Inter- and transdisciplinary research for mitigating wicked societal and environmental problems’. We invite interested scholars and practitioners to submit papers for presentations. The conference will take place at Silent Green Kulturquartier in Berlin, Germany from 17 to 18 June 2024.
The challenge of the digital transformation of society and the transformation towards sustainability are closely interlinked and crucial for prospering futures of humanity. The most pressing challenges include the protection of people, democratic institutions and the environment, as well as enabling participation in shaping changes and an inclusive and fair life. In this context, digitalisation is seen as both a saviour and a threat to sustainable development. Possible negative effects on people and the environment need also to be considered when designing and using digital technologies.
TOPICS OF INTEREST
This year’s Weizenbaum Conference encourages the sharing of empirical examples from practice as well as theoretical or conceptual contributions around the following aspects of the broader topic:
- Designing sustainable digital technologies (making technologies more sustainable)
- Use of CivicTech for sustainability and resilient societies (e.g. sensors, citizen science, IoT, crisis mapping, digital volunteers)
- Future strategies, strategic foresight, technology impact research, forecasts, uncertainty and the future
SUBMISSIONS
We welcome submissions rooted in inter- or transdisciplinary backgrounds. We are open to theoretical/conceptional contributions, empirical analyses, and technical contributions.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
We invite paper submissions between 2500 and 5000 words in length. Please use our Word template. Preferably, submissions should be original work not yet published elsewhere. Submissions based on already published papers should indicate the publication’s source in a comment section in the submission system.
As the paper will be reviewed in a double-blind process, please anonymize any information which could point to your authorship. Accepted papers will be published in an anthology. Authors are expected to hold a 20-minute presentation of their accepted conference papers.
You can find more information here.