“Center for Critical Computational Studies” begins its work

The “Center for Critical Computational Studies” (C3S for short) begins its work at Goethe University. The center is intended to create a forward-looking research, teaching and transfer environment. In this way, system understandings can be deepened across domains and (post)digital change can be shaped in a sustainable and justifiable way.

Prof. Dr. Christoph Burchard, member of the “Normative Orders” research center, is also part of the four-member founding team from the fields of humanities, social sciences, life sciences and computer sciences. As founding spokesperson of the C3S, he sees a unique opportunity for the university and the scientific region: “In the founding board and together with the Principal Investigators at the C3S, we will create the structures to bring ‘Critical Computational Studies’ to life in the coming years. This would not have been possible without the initiative and tireless commitment of the President. We are now taking up the important preliminary work, setting priorities and integrating all of this into the overall strategy of Goethe University. To this end, we are in close contact with excellence cluster initiatives and are seeking an intensive exchange with the profile and specialist departments. These are central partners of the C3S.”

Critical Computational Studies is considered a pioneering field of research and aims in particular to establish, develop and apply computational – i.e. computer-, algorithm- and data-based – methods. The interactions between humans, society and technology are always taken into account. With this interweaving of the computational and the critical, Goethe University also wants to understand the opportunities and challenges of (post)digital transformations and actively shape the latter. The newly created center plays a leading role in this.