The 4th Interdisciplinary Workshop on the Digital Society: Societally Engaged AI
As AI reshapes our world, critical questions emerge about its role in addressing – or perpetuating – societal challenges. From algorithmic bias and environmental costs to the concentration of AI power in the hands of a few, we face urgent questions about how to develop AI systems that genuinely serve society’s needs. To tackle this, we need to reimagine AI development through a socially engaged lens: how can we create AI technologies that actively contribute to social justice, environmental sustainability, and democratic values? What does it mean for AI to be truly “societally engaged,” and how can we ensure it serves diverse communities and needs? To address these questions, researchers should bridge technical and social perspectives, combining rigorous technical expertise with deep understanding of societal implications.
The 4th Interdisciplinary Workshop on the Digital Society will be a half-day event held on 25th February, 2025 at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, organized by the Network Institute. Our primary goal is to create a welcoming space for researchers from different backgrounds interested in collaborating and to provide a low-threshold opportunity to present your work. This year’s theme is societally engaged AI.
- When: 25th February, 2025
- Where: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, [ Building will be announced shortly ]
Participants will have the opportunity to present a poster and give a short lightning presentation to interact and connect with colleagues from inside and outside the VU. The program will also include a keynote by prof. dr. Sennay Ghebreab and fun networking activities, including a research speed-dating session, and the opportunity to win a research money voucher.
Submission Guidelines
We invite all researchers interested in an interdisciplinary discussion around Digital Society to contribute to our program. We accept two types of submissions:
- A previously published paper: submit your existing paper to initiate interdisciplinary discussions. You might find the right collaborator for a follow-up project.
- Work in progress: submit a short abstract (250 words) describing your work in progress. You might receive valuable feedback from outside your academic bubble.
All submissions must be entered in the EasyChair platform. In the abstract input field you include a) an abstract (max. 250 words) of your paper (option 1) or your work in progress (option 2) and b) a motivation (max. 250 words) for how your research could benefit from cross-pollination with other disciplines. You only need to attach a paper for option 1.
Submission Link for papers: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=iwds25
Important Deadlines
- Submission Deadline: 13 January 2025
- Author Notification: 20 January 2025
Organizing committee:
Reshmi Pillai (coordinator) – Communication Science Added:
Renate Baumgartner – Athena Institute
Alona Dolinsky – Communication Science
Mike Ligthart – Artificial Intelligence
Dorothé Smit – Creative Technology
NOTE: We will conduct a (lightweight) review of all submissions. The workshop is non-archival.
