• 50 Years of Bielefeld University, 1969–2019

    © Universität Bielefeld

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Scientific Board

Professor Dr. Herbert Dawid

Professor Dr. Angelika Epple (chair of Scientific Board)

Professor Dr. Kai Kauffmann

Dr. Britta Padberg

Professor Dr. Günter Reiss

 

Anniversary Programme Coordinator: Thomas Abel

Anniversary Conference

 “The Theoretical University in the Data Age: Have the Great Theories Become Obsolete?” was a two-day conference held on November 14-15th to explore the formulation of theory and the future of theory in the age of Big Data.

Philosopher of science Nancy Cartwright (Durham/San Diego) and string theorist Robbert Dijkgraaf (Princeton) were keynote speakers. There were also four parallel panel sessions with a variety of lectures on the following topics: Theorizing Contemporary Society; Contemporary Textual Cultures; Big Data: From Machine Learning to Quantum Computing; and Interdisciplinary Models for a Complex World.

An interdisciplinary panel discussed questions relating to the formation of theory and its scope in different academic disciplines. To conclude the conference, stakeholders from academia and politics discussed the dynamic among independent research, good governance, and the increasing monetization of research in the Data Age.

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Keynote Lectures

Opening Keynote (E)

Robbert Dijkgraaf (Princeton): The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge and the Importance of Basic Research

©Universität Bielefeld
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Keynote Lecture (E)

Nancy Cartwright (Durham/San Diego): Why Big Theories are Here to Stay

©Universität Bielefeld
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Panels

Panel A

Theorizing Contemporary Society. Challenges and Perspectives (E)

Organized by: Sina Farzin, Hamburg; Julian Go, Boston; Tobias Werron, Bielefeld

  • Stephan Lessenich (Munich): Relations Matter: World Systems Theory and Beyond
  • Julian Go (Boston): Globalizing Social Theory
  • Sina Farzin (Hamburg): Theorising or Diagnosing the Present? Two Genres of Sociological Thinking

Discussant: Uwe Schimank (Bremen)
Moderator: Tobias Werron (Bielefeld)

  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Stephan Lessenich (Munich)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Stephan Lessenich (Munich)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Julian Go (Boston)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Sina Farzin (Hamburg)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Uwe Schimank (Bremen)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Tobias Werron (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Julian Bo (Boston), Prof. Dr. Sina Farzin (Hamburg)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Moderated by: Prof. Dr. Tobias Werron (Bielefeld)
Relations Matter: World Systems Theory and Beyond Play
Globalizing Social Theory Play
Theorising or Diagnosing the Present? Two Genres of Sociological Thinking Play
Comment on the talks Play
Theorizing Contemporary Society. Challenges and Perspectives Play
Panel B

Contemporary Text Cultures: Theoretical Perspectives of Historical Text Studies (G)

Organized by: Franz-Josef Arlinghaus, Lars Deile, Silke Schwandt, Carlos Spoerhase, Véronique Zanetti

  • Michael N. Forster (Bonn): Humboldts Modell der Universität im digitalen Zeitalter
  • Bernhard Jussen (Frankfurt/Main): Philologische Sozialisation und die Zumutungen des „Digital“. Probleme eines (vielleicht) Paradigmenwechsels in den „Humanities“
  • Andrea Rapp (Darmstadt): Materialität - Digitalität - Textualtät. Kategorien modellieren
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Michael N. Forster (Bonn)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Andrea Rapp (Darmstadt)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Organized by: Prof. Dr. Silke Schwandt (Bielefeld)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Bernhard Jussen (Frankfurt am Main)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Philipp Ottendörfer
    Prof. Dr. Bernhard Jussen (Frankfurt am Main), Prof. Dr. Andrea Rapp (Darmstadt), Prof. Dr. Michael N. Forster (Bonn)
Humboldts Modell der Universität im digitalen Zeitalter Play
Philologische Sozialisation und die Zumutungen des „Digital". Play
Materialität - Digitalität - Textualtät. Kategorien modellieren Play
Diskussion der Gäste mit dem Publikum Play
Panel C

Big Data: From Machine Learning to Quantum Computing (E)

Organized by: Dario Anselmetti, Barbara Hammer

  • Brief Panel Introduction (Barbara Hammer, Dario Anselmetti)
  • Kristian Kersting (TU Darmstadt): Data Science & Machine Learning
  • Christian Bauckhage (IAIS Fraunhofer, Sankt Augustin): Will Quantum Computing Disrupt Machine Learning?
  • Carlo Beenakker (Leiden University): Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Dario Anselmetti (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Barbara Hammer (Bielefeld)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Kristian Kersting (Darmstadt)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Christian Bauckhage (IAIS Fraunhofer, Sankt Augustin)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Carlo Beenakker
Data Science & Machine Learning Play
Will Quantum Computing Disrupt Machine Learning? Play
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Play
Panel D

Interdisciplinary Models for a Complex World (E)

Organized by: Martin Carrier, Armin Gölzhäuser, Marie I. Kaiser

  • Paul Humphreys (Charlottesville): Transdisciplinary Templates, Machine Learning, and the Prospects for Theoryfree Models
  • Kurt Kremer (Mainz): Random Walks: The Role of Topological Constraints in Physics and Beyond
  • Franjo Weissing (Groningen): The Causes and Consequences of Individual Differences
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Paul Humphreys (Charlottesville)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Kurt Kremer (Mainz)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Organisated by: Prof. Dr. Marie I. Kaiser (Bielefeld)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Franjo Weissing (Groningen)
Transdisciplinary Templates, Machine Learning, and the Prospects for Theory-free Models Play

The Role of Topological Constraints in Physics and Beyond

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The Causes and Consequences of Individual Differences

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Diskussion

Panel discussion

The Role of Theory in Different Disciplines (E)

Discussants from the different panels

Moderated by: Manuela Lenzen

  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Herr. Prof. Armin Gölzhäuser (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Tobias Werron (Bielefeld), Moderation: Dr. Manuela Lenzen (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Angelika Epple (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Carlos Spoerhase (Bielefeld) und Prof. Dr. Carlo Beenakker (Leiden University)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Herr. Prof. Armin Gölzhäuser (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Tobias Werron (Bielefeld), Moderation: Dr. Manuela Lenzen (Bielefeld)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Angelika Epple (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Carlos Spoerhase (Bielefeld) und Prof. Dr. Carlo Beemakker (Leiden University)
The Role of Theory in Different Disciplines Play
Political roundtable debate

How Should Academia be Governed in the Data Age? Good Governance vs Economization (G)

with Robert Dijkgraaf (Princeton), Dieter Imboden (Zürich), Ada Pellert (Hagen), Eva Quante-Brandt (Bremen), Gerhard Sagerer (Bielefeld)

Moderated by: Benedikt Schulz (Köln)

  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Gerhard Sagerer (Bielefeld), Prof. Dr. Eva Quante-Brandt (Bremen), Moderated by: Benedikt Schulz (Köln)
  • ©Universität Bielefeld / Stefan Sättele
    Prof. Dr. Ada Pellert (Hagen), Prof. Dr. Dieter Imboden (Zürich) uad Prof. Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf (Princeton)
Wie die Wissenschaft im Zeitalter der Daten steuern? Good Governance vs. Ökonomisierung Play