We look back on a successful fifth edition of the Interdisciplinary Workshop on the Digital Society (IWDS). 

A keynote talk by Dr. Laura Hollink on “Bias in Linked Data” was followed by a lightning talk and poster presentations by nine (teams of) researchers from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, this year we had the pleasure of hosting the five Academy Assistant’s projects. The event ended with an “academic speed dating”, that saw participants discuss and propose future interdisciplinary research lines.

This year’s theme, Human-Centred Data, explored how data-driven technologies shape, and are shaped by, human values, agency, and the systems we inhabit. From privacy and consent to fairness and environmental impact, data practices have profound consequences for people and the planet. Yet dominant approaches often prioritize scale and efficiency over dignity, sustainability, and relationality. Through a human-centred lens, we ask: how can data ecosystems respect autonomy, foster inclusivity, and empower communities? What does “human-centred” mean in a world of entangled human and non-human actors, and how can infrastructures serve diverse needs without reinforcing inequities or ecological harm? Addressing these questions demands bridging technical, ethical, and societal perspectives, combining robust data science with critical engagement around human values, social contexts, and planetary futures.

Thank you all again for your participation. Hopefully you gained new insights and ideas for future research and collaborations, and of course: had a good time!

Find all the posters and photos of the event on the event’s page.