„The Codec of Celovec: Exploring Local Climate (Re-)Actions and Their Implications“

November 5^th 2024 at 11:45 in V.1.07.

Johannes Kröger, BA MA (Institut für Kulturanalyse, IFK – Abteilung Empirische Kulturwissenschaft/Kulturanthropologie)

Abstract of the talk:

Klagenfurt’s aspiration to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 is undermined by its reliance on car-dependent infrastructure, fragmented governance, and policies that fail to foster genuine sustainability. While the city actively promotes various sustainability initiatives, these efforts often rely on compensatory measures—such as offsetting pollution through its natural resources—without addressing the deeper cultural and behavioral factors that drive environmental degradation. This situation raises important questions about the interactions between political structures, social dynamics, and individual behaviors, which together contribute to the gap between the city’s climate neutrality goals and actual environmental practices. Through an interdisciplinary approach, including digital tools, qualitative fieldwork, stakeholder interviews and an in-depth analysis of policy frameworks, this study aspires to offer insights that not only tackle local challenges but also contribute to wider debates on environmental justice and sustainable living at a global scale.

St. Veit Symposium „Künstliche Intelligenz“ 24. und 25. Oktober 2024

Wir freuen uns sehr am diesjährigen KI Symposium in St. Veit
teilzunehmen und den Menschen eine Perspektive näher zu bringen, die den
Menschen in den Mittelpunkt stellt. Mit unterschiedlichen Aktivitäten
beleuchten wir, wie KI und Gesellschaft in Beziehung stehen und welche
Folgen das haben kann. Details findet man hier.

https://www.aau.at/blog/ki-jeopardy-bei-st-veit-symposium-zu-kuenstlicher-intelligenz/

KI-Jeopardy bei St. Veit Symposium zu Künstlicher Intelligenz

Von 24. bis 26. Oktober 2024 findet in St. Veit das öffentlich zugängliche Symposium „Künstliche Intelligenz“ statt. Die Universität Klagenfurt trägt mit Vorträgen und der Teilnahme an Panel-Diskussionen zu der Veranstaltung bei. Am 24. und 25. Oktober wird eine Gruppe des Digital Age Research Center (D^!ARC) mit einer Mitmachstation vor Ort sein.

Weiterlesen →

New Book Release: „Democratic Algorithms“ by Nikolaus Poechhacker

We are excited to announce the publication of „Democratic Algorithms: Ethnography of a Public Recommender System“ by Nikolaus Poechhacker, an exploration into the intersection of algorithm design and democratic values, published by meson press. In his work, Nikolaus Poechhacker ethnographically examines the creation of an algorithmic recommender system within a public broadcaster, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of integrating democratic principles into algorithmic design, raising questions not only about organizational and technical implementation, but also about the possible compatibility of such an algorithmic system with democratic constitutions.

Through comprehensive ethnographic research, Nikolaus Poechhacker addresses pivotal questions on value-by-design processes in the making of algorithmic systems and highlights that making democratic algorithms is an ongoing process, even after the implementation of the software. Further, the book provides careful suggestions, how social theory can help to grasp the complex phenomenon of algorithmic systems. As such, Democratic Algorithms explores theoretically and empirically informed perspectives on how we can imagine and design algorithms for a democratic society, and what we even mean by that.

This publication is available in both print and pdf (open access). For more information and to obtain a copy, visit meson press.

About the Author: Nikolaus Poechhacker is post-doctoral researcher at the Digital Age Research Center (D!ARC) of the University of Klagenfurt and research fellow at the Department of Innovation and Digitalization of Law, University of Vienna. His work focuses on the sociopolitical and -legal dimensions of digital technology bringing together perspectives from media theory, STS, computer science, and sociology.