The Department of Computing Models and Social Implications of Computerisation is an integral part of the Institute of Computer Science and Social Research (IIG). Its staff is a multi- and interdisciplinary group of scientists from various corners of the world. Researchers currently engaged in the department's projects are experts in seven different disciplines: computer science, mathematics, biology, sociology, pedagogy, ethnology and law.
In addition, many of the scientists affiliated with us have dual qualifications and conduct research in gender studies; some of them acquired competence in the field during their stay in our department. Moreover, we cooperate with specialists in various fields of medicine (e.g. neurology, anatomy and pharmacology). Our collaborators include experts in: biology, linguistics, English studies, philosophy, information and library sciences, economics, media didactics and law (computer and information law).
Our team is multinational, currently representating four nations. We host guest scholars who are experts on various trends in science, and we have welcomed scholars from different countries including: Great Britain, Italy, India and the US.
The department is well known for its contributions to computer science and social research, particularly for research of the various aspects of gender, as well as social investigations in fields such as engineering and natural sciences. We take part in all the important events in Germany in these domains.
The department is responsible for teaching computer science and sociology within the realm of student training. We are also in charge of the course "Professionally Oriented Qualification" for students working toward a B.S. and M.S. in applied computer science, and for students majoring in gender studies as related to natural sciences, engineering and medicine.
Supervision of student research is carried out by way of preparing the students for their undergraduate studies or Master's and covers a wide range of subjects from biomedicine to computer science. These include enquiries into epistemological changes in biomedicine resulting from detailed mapping of human body, brain and gene databanks. Our students also deal with problems related to bio-information theory, computerisation of natural sciences, etc. These problems are linked to computer science, social research and philosophy of computer science. Each topic is also analysed from the viewpoint of gender studies.
In the year 2000, our efforts to institutionalise gender studies in technology and in natural sciences at universities in Baden-Württemberg were brought forward by the Centre of Excellence for Gender Studies in Computer Science and Natural Sciences, the Centre of Excellence for Gender Studies and Educational Issues in the Information Society, and by our Teaching-Transfer in Gender Studies of the ZAG (Centre for Anthropology and Gender Studies) at the University of Freiburg.
The principal questions of our research are rooted in computer science, having arisen during the process of computerisation in different areas of science and social life. We attempt to shed light on these areas and investigate them from different epistemological viewpoints, applying diverse methodological tools. We focus on modelling computing and its social interaction. We are also involved in construction, analysis and validation of models and developing working rules for computer artefacts.
In relation to analysis, we are especially interested in:
The results of these analyses are applied in modelling and the design of technological artefacts.
A wide and multifaceted research spectrum and the application of a rich repertoire of methods are hallmarks of our department. Taking full advantage of the potential of multidisciplinary research is not a simple task. It is complicated by the variety of goals set by various disciplines, different methods and goals of cognition, and by divergent terminologies.
An additional obstacle is created by dissimilar epistemological norms accepted by various disciplines. When undertaking an interdisciplinary investigation, researchers need to be aware that to obtain valid and reproducible results, consistent methods must be applied.
The role of models in computer science is increasing in importance. Since computer products are designed in and for a different social environment than in some areas of the world where they are sold and used, there arises a demand for more diverse methods of development. Not only formal and technical methods are needed, but also methods in disciplines dealing with the study of intellect and culture are necessary. At present, computer science distances itself from these demands and leaves this problem to the user to solve, left to rely only on his/her inner knowledge. The economic effects of such an approach are problematic.
The task of merging computer science with social research is to achieve better understanding of the different aspects of the man/machine interaction. However, projects undertaking such a task are still scarce. Considering the historical and epistemological nature of women's and gender studies in natural sciences and engineering, they are invariably interdisciplinary. Ideas and methods developed in the domain of gender studies are applied to our research in computer science.
More on our collaborations, publications, and lectures
can be found on this homepage.
Contact: Prof. Schinzel - E-Mail: schinzel
modell.iig.uni-freiburg.de