Digital Humanism
Informatics Europe collaborates with TU Wien and other partners on the Digital Humanism initiative, which focuses on exploring the evolving relationship between humans, machines, and of Informatics and society. Through workshops, publications, and an ongoing online lecture series, the initiative promotes a global dialogue on how technology shapes, and is shaped by human values.
The roots of Digital Humanism (DIGHUM) trace back to April 2019, when TU Wien Informatics hosted the inaugural workshop dedicated to this concept. This pivotal event culminated in the creation of the Vienna Manifesto on Digital Humanism and the formation of a thriving international community. Since then, the initiative has gained momentum, offering regular online discussions on diverse aspects of Digital Humanism. Recordings of these enriching lectures are available on the DIGHUM YouTube Channel.
In 2021, the initiative marked a significant achievement with the publication of Perspectives on Digital Humanism. This collection of nearly 50 articles, written by experts from diverse disciplines and institutions, examines the complex interplay between humans and machines. Contributors include Enrico Nardelli, Michael E. Caspersen and Lynda Hardman—former Informatics Europe Board Directors—who offered their insights in this freely accessible publication here.
To nurture the next generation of thinkers, Informatics Europe offered two full-tuition scholarships in 2022 for students from IE member institutions to attend the Digital Humanism Summer School in Vienna. This interactive, interdisciplinary event is designed for PhD and advanced master’s students, as well as professionals from industry, institutions, and civil society. Bringing together participants from fields such as humanities, social sciences, and technical and engineering disciplines, the summer school fosters engagement with the challenges and opportunities of the digital era.
For more information about Digital Humanism activities, please contact Hannes Werthner or visit the initiative's official website: https://informatics.tuwien.ac.at/digital-humanism/