Robots taking over assembly tasks, assistance systems supporting the diagnosis of diseases, self-driving cars: Learning systems are increasingly becoming parts of our lives. Consequently, the first KIT Science Week headed "Der Mensch im Zentrum Lernender Systeme" (The Human Being in the Center of Learning Systems) will focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The new type of event organized by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) from October 5 to 10, 2021 will combine a scientific conference for top-level international researchers discussing the development of dependable, tangible, and adaptable human-inspired AI technologies with dialog events for close exchange with citizens.
"Excellent science needs dialog. We do not only need exchange within the science community, but also with society. Global challenges, such as the energy and mobility transition, climate protection, or digitization can only be managed by us all together," says the President of KIT, Professor Holger Hanselka. "At KIT, we conduct research for the society. This also means discussing with people outside of KIT, and taking up and addressing their ideas. This is exactly what we want to do during the KIT Science Week."
The KIT Science Week is a new participative and interactive type of event launched by KIT and its partners. It will give experts from science, industry, politics, and culture the opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions. In addition, citizens of the city and region are invited to join innovative online events, such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) or escape rooms. During visits of the laboratories of KIT, workshops or dialog events, they can experience artificial intelligence and applications of AI-based technologies and innovations. Prominently staffed panels, citizens dialogs, ZAK Talks, and the TEDxKIT event will provide the opportunity to ask questions and to reflect on opportunities and risks associated with learning systems. The KIT Science Week, as a combination of a scientific conference with public events, addresses both scientific experts and interested citizens.
"With the KIT Science Week, we are deliberately going new ways in the transfer of knowledge and technologies as well as in the dialog between public and science," says Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT Vice-President for Innovation and International Affairs. "For the first time, we will combine a scientific conference of leading researchers from all over the world with events for active participation of citizens."
Selected Events
Opening of the KIT Science Week with a Keynote by Human-computer Interaction Expert Susanne Boll
on Tuesday, October 05, 2021, 18.00 to 21.00 hrs
Artificial intelligence is a technology changing everything. Which new opportunities for society are opened up by AI? First answers will be given by Professor Holger Hanselka, President of KIT, Thomas Strobl, Deputy Minister-President of the State of Baden-Württemberg, and Gabriele Luczak-Schwarz, First Mayoress of the City of Karlsruhe. The program will be complemented by a talk of Professor Susanne Boll, renowned scientist and human-computer interaction expert. She is professor at the University of Oldenburg and studies the development of interactive technologies for the benefit of humans in increasingly automated and AI-based living and working situations. After her speech, Susanne Boll will answer questions of the audience.
