TUDiSC: News January 2025
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29.01.2025
 

Disruption and Societal Change
 
Events and Happenings

Together towards Change

Job Opportunities

Dates

Contact us

Diversification: Challenging Collaboration in Politics and Research

The year 2025 begins with several challenges – in Saxony, we are witnessing the immediate impacts of a highly controversial political situation that continues to unfold at both national and international levels. Are these already disruptive circumstances? That certainly depends on perspective and how directly the effects influence daily life.
At TUDiSC, the focus this year is on the home stretch of several projects. Of the seven ongoing projects, five will be completed this year – marking not only the final push for individual doctoral theses but also the generation of new perspectives for interdisciplinary collaboration. What lessons can we draw from these years of working together? What are the prospects for collaborative research in the humanities and social sciences at TU Dresden? And how do we bridge the gap between a local university and an international research perspective?
We hope to derive forward-looking plans from the various perspectives within TUDiSC that will enable us not only to study current societal phenomena but also to understand the underlying dynamics. One of the greatest challenges seems to be the high level of diversification, which tests our ability to find common ground and make compromises. This, in turn, creates opportunities for authoritarian groups to challenge democratic decision-making processes.
We warmly invite you to the 6th TUDiSC Conference on November 27–28, focusing on "The Paradox of Authoritarian Networks: Disrupting Democracy and Stabilizing Autocracy."
For the scientific endeavors on disruptive processes and phenomena of the 21st century, we wish all projects great success, creative and disciplined research approaches, and, at times, that little bit of luck that good research so often needs!

Clara Jacobi, Scientific Coordinator of TUDiSC
 

Events and Happenings

[© Women@DDc]

Women@DDc Network

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Women@DDc Network invites female doctoral candidates and postdocs to a workshop for increasing their visibility in the scientific community using the platforms LinkedIn and ResearchGate.
February 11, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trainer: Katja Wolter M.A., Steinbeis Research Center Greifswald
Language: English
Registration: women-at-ddc@barkhauseninstitut.org
© Benjamin Griebe

#eXit: Goodybye X/Twitter

As part of an initiative by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, the TUD, together with over 60 other German research institutions, shut down its account on the platform X, formerly Twitter, on January 10. The departments of the TUD (with the exception of the Department of Civil Engineering and Environment, which did not have an account) followed this decision on January 13 and finally deleted their accounts on January 20. For the time being, the various news pages, newsletters and the central social media channels of the TUD are available for the communication of current topics. The development of further communication channels is being explored.
 
» More about the initiative
© TUD

Commission: Good Scientific Practice

On December 12, 2024, the Rectorate established the Commission for the Investigation of Good Scientific Practice and appointed its chair for a period of three years: Prof. Ronny Hauck, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, Faculty of Economics, and as further members: Dr. Hermann Diebel-Fischer, TUD, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Prof. em. Peer Haller, TUD, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Prof. Matthias Klinghardt, TUD, Faculty of Philosophy, Prof. em. Gabriele Schmitz-Schackert, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Prof. em. Ralph Stelzer, TUD, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. In the event of suspected violations of good scientific practice, the ombudsperson (Prof. Alexander Kemnitz) can initiate investigation proceedings. The Ombudsperson and the Investigation Commission are supported by the Good Scientific Practice Review Board.
 
» Good Scientific Practice: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
[© TU Dresden]

Finissage: //DataSpaces Exhibition

Join for the closing event of the interactive exhibition exploring the profound impact of digital transformation on society and science.

Discover how digital technologies like artificial intelligence and high-performance computing are shaping our world - enhancing everyday life, promoting global connectivity, and driving innovation, while also raising questions about security, transparency, and ethics. The exhibition offers an engaging, interactive experience that reveals the complex interplay between science and societal change.

Don't miss this opportunity to reflect, connect, and celebrate with a reception and a casual get-together.

Date: February 11
Time: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
 
» DataSpaces

 

Together Towards Change

In this section, we highlight interesting events, calls, or information.
[© ChatAI]

Text-generating AI systems at TU Dresden

How to use text generating Artificial Intelligences in Research? Since there are a lot of insecurities, the TU Dresden has offered a guideline in 2024. When using softwares like ChatGPT, keep the following things in mind:

1) The data entered in software (both licensed/commercial and available free of charge) is used, for example, by ChatGPT to further develop the AI system. The texts/information generated from this data can be viewed by all users. Deleting the entered data or content is technically difficult and currently hardly feasible.

2) The principles of good scientific practice also apply when using text-generating AI systems, including examinations. Directly and indirectly used sources must be acknowledged (also when using AI-generated texts). References, links or similar are not suitable due to the different answers to the same questions when using GenAI.

3) Many text-generating AI systems do not provide any sources for their answers and generated bibliographies can contain invented titles or publications (so-called “hallucinations” of the AI). Be careful about these!

Try out different systems and don't just rely on the biggest ones, that might be very intransparent on data usage. Check our for example ChatAI, that makes it possible to use locally operated LLMs in a data protection-friendly and secure manner.
 
» ChatAI
© Robert-Havemann-Gesellschaft

Event: The Political Samizdat of the GDR in the Digital Space

The opposition in the GDR is considered to be relatively well researched in comparison to other East Central European countries. A large amount of secondary literature and sources, including samizdat products, have been evaluated for academic analysis. However, the limited digital accessibility of samizdat literature continues to be an obstacle to its comprehensive exploration.
Thanks to funding from the The Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Germany , this problem is now being solved. At this event, the new online presence on sachsen.digital will be presented. Witnesses and experts from Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary will report on the materials of the Eastern European samizdat and their respective histories.

Date: January 31
Time: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Location: Interim Library Bergstraße/Open Science Lab, Zellescher Weg 21–25
 
» More Info & Registration
© Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden

Cultural Recommendation: Beauty in the GDR

With the motto “Beauty for all”, the GDR pursued an idea of beauty that was linked to equality and social participation - but what did this look like in practice? How did socialist ideals shape ideas of beauty in the East and what role did they play in people's everyday lives? Using objects from the collection of the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum this event - as part of the series "Call of Beauty" - looks to shed light on beauty practices in the GDR. Guests are welcome to bring their own stories or objects that shape or shaped their personal relationship to beauty in the GDR.

Please register your attendance in advance!

Date: February 2
Time: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden
 
» More Info & Registration
 

Job Opportunities

Research Associate (m/f/d) (PostDoc) for the coordination of the Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS)
starting April 1, full-time, limited to 3 to 5 years, application by February 24 via the online portal.
» To job advert
Research Associate (m/f/d) for Educational Sciences in the field of Transformation Research at the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA)
starting immediately until December 31, in Görlitz, application by February 21 to dza@tu-dresden.de
» To job advert
Research Associate (m/f/d) Urban and Regional Development in the field of Transformation Research at the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA)
starting immediately until December 31, in Görlitz, application by February 21 to dza@tu-dresden.de
» To job advert
Research Associate (m/f/d) for Spatial Sociology, Cultural Studies in the field of Transformation Research at the German Center for Astrophysics (DZA)
starting immediately until December 31, in Görlitz, application by February 21 to dza@tu-dresden.de
» To job advert
 

Upcoming Dates

Nov 27-28
Conference
TUDiSC 6th International Conference

The Paradox of Authoritarian Networks: Disrupting Democracy and Stabilizing Autocracy
More information to follow shortly
Ort   TBC
» coming soon. Stay tuned to find out more!
 

Contact Us

           

Disruption and Societal Change Center
TUDiSC

Zellescher Weg 17
01069 Dresden

+49 0351 463 40629
 
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If you want to contribute to the newsletter, please send your suggestions by the 20th of each month. The newsletter will be released in the last week of the month.
 
Logo der Technischen Universität Dresden
Disruption and Societal Change Center
TUDiSC
Zellescher Weg 17
01069 Dresden
Scientific Coordination: Clara Jacobi

Communications Manager: Declan Galbraith

Chairperson: Prof. Dr. Christian Prunitsch
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Picture credits:
Cover picture: © Amac Garbe
 
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