Digitization and sustainability are widely discussed both scientifically and politically. A close look at their complex interrelations provides an entry point to the the analysis of challenges and the development of promising perspectives for sociotechnical developments. Over the course of the summer term 2023, advanced students from a variety of disciplines followed this call and participated in the interdisciplinary seminar series “Digitalization and Sustainability: Strategic Visions for Future Development” that was co-organized by Profs. Daniel Barben (STS), Wilfried Elmenreich (Networked and Embedded Systems), Caroline Schmitt (Educational Science), Rainer Winter (Media and Communications) and D!ARC’s own Katharina Kinder-Kurlanda.

In September, the seminar culminated in three days spent in beautiful Drautal in western Carinthia, presenting, discussing, and writing texts for a collaborative book project. This comprised working on digital participation in sustainable city planning, drone technologies, sustainability in online teaching, sustainable online delivery platform design and many other topics at the intersection of science, technology and society. The event was generously supported by the Privatstiftung Kärntner Sparkasse, enabling students to participate in this productive, intense and thought-provoking event. The publication of the book is expected for 2024.