Institute for Science and Ethics (IWE)

The IWE is a central research unit of the University of Bonn. Core objective is to contribute to an ethical reflection of current developments in medicine, science, and technology in order to facilitate the responsible use of new potentials emerging in these fields of human activity.

Workshop: AI ETHICS FROM THE MAJORITY WORLD: Reconstructing the Global Debate through Decolonial Lenses

José Renato: Workshop teaser
© Markus Franke

23 - 24 May 2024 in Bonn, Germany

Speakers:

  • Deivison Faustino, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
  • Husein Inusah, University of Ghana, Ghana
  • Modestha Mensah, University of Ghana, Ghana
  • Dodzi Koku Hattoh, University of Ghana, Ghana
  • Melanie Cheung, Indigenous AI, New Zealand
  • Angie Abdilla, Australian National University, Australia
  • Noelani Arista, McGill University, Canada
  • Wakanyi Hoffman, The New Institute, Germany
  • Samuel Segun, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

As AI development takes over headlines across the globe, it becomes clearer how such technologies have pushed societies toward further environmental exploitation and wealth and power concentration. Such development has often overlooked the diverse cultural, historical, and social contexts of marginalised communities, in particular Indigenous groups and those from the Majority World. To foster a multifaceted perspective on AI ethics, a pluriversal approach needs to be employed.

The two-day workshop “AI Ethics from the Majority World: Reconstructing the Global Debate Through Decolonial Lenses” offers a forum to discuss alternatives to the status quo of AI ethics. Hosted by the University of Bonn’s Institute for Sciences and Ethics, the workshop aims to advance a reconstruction of the proliferated perspectives of AI ethics, dominantly shaped by ethical standards from historically hegemonic groups in the Minority World, by examining the plural decolonial schools of thought that challenge the positions that have shaped AI development worldwide.

IWE in 2 minutes &
IWE short talks

The IWE has created a series of videos in which we introduce ourselves, present our projects and promote our events.
New videos are published on our YouTube channel frequently.

Playlist: IWE in 2 minutes
Playlist: IWE short talks

Responsible AI & AI Materiality

IWE short talk with Dodzi Koku Hattoh

22 March 2024

International Women's Day

IWE in 2 min with Aimee van Wynsberghe

8 March 2024

Intelligent Robots and Human Dignity

IWE in 2 min with Sebastian Knell

4 March 2024

Symbolbild - zur Gehirn-Computer-Schnittstelle
© KI-generiert mit Copilot & Photoshop

Networking the German neuroethics community

Great progress has been made in the neurosciences. But to what extent should such new technologies or therapies intervene in the human brain? Neuroethics is investigating and discussing this question. The Research Hub Neuroethics (RHUNE) is now being set up under the project management of Prof. Dr. Bert Heinrichs.

Women in AI & Robotics Launch
© Women in AI & Robotics / IWE

A Network for Women Active in AI and Robotics

IWE and “Women in AI & Robotics” are jointly forming a local chapter

Human-robot interaction and sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) were the topics of discussion on 9 November 2023 at an event organized jointly by the IWE and the "Women in AI and Robotics" network.

The event date marked the start of partnership between the two organizations.

Click the button below for a recap and pictures.

The event was recorded and is available on our YouTube channel.

Philosophy of the City Journal
© Jesse Colin Jackson / Photoshop AI

Philosophy of the City Journal

The inaugural issue of the Philosophy of the City Journal (POTCJ) is was recently published, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Philosophy of the City Research Group. POTCJ is fully open-access, and the first issue features 12 contributions covering a range of theoretical and practical topics related to urbanism and city life.

IWE Senior Researcher Taylor Stone is a member of the new journal's editorial team. 

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Volker Lannert

Sustainable AI Conference 2023 - Sustainable AI Across Borders

From 30th May to 1st June 2023, the Bonn Sustainable AI Lab organized its second conference dedicated to the topic of Sustainable AI with the theme Sustainable AI Across Borders.

All presentations in the main hall were recorded and will be published successively on our YouTube channel every Monday at noon.

A written review with many conference photos can be found here.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Ahold Delhaize

Podcast with Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe and Wouter Kolk

Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe met with Wouter Kolk, CEO of Ahold Delhaize Europe and Indonesia, to discuss AI ethics in industry. The two of them spoke about the demands of industry leaders to use new technologies and the needs of customers to trust companies. A provocative and insightful talk!

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Pixabay

Many Worlds of AI Conference

The Sustainable AI Lab hosts an interdisciplinary and interactive discussion exploring the multidimensionality of the relationship between AI and sustainability for different communities, both at the global and local levels.

The event will take place as part of the Many Worlds of AI Conference in Cambridge, UK (24.4.-28.4.23) at 10:30 on 28 April 2023.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Aaron Burden, Unsplash

Special issue in Sustainability

The special issue of the Sustainability journal "Towards the Sustainability of AI; Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Investigate the Hidden Costs of AI" has now been completed.
Prints will be available in the near future.

COP27
© Şebnem Yardımcı Geyikçi

Bonn Sustainable AI Lab at COP 27

The Sustainable AI Lab hosted an interdisciplinary and interactive discussion exploring the ways AI is re-shaping common goods, such as public space and state-society relations.

The discussion took place at COP 27 on 15 November 2022.

Aimee van Wynsberghe
© Behindertenbeauftragter/Anna Spindelndreier, Germany resp. Disability Commissioner Germany/Anna Spindelndreier

Prof. van Wynsberghe speaks about the risks of AI for Persons with Disabilities at the World's first G7 Global Inclusion Summit

The beginning of September saw the first ever G7 Global Inclusion Summit in Berlin, hosted by the Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities. The aim of the summit was to work together to enable more participation for people with disabilities in the G7 countries and to tackle global challenges together, also from the perspective of inclusion.

Prof. van Wynsberghe was invited to give a keynote on the impact of artificial intelligence on persons with disabilities. She highlighted how disability studies and scholars are largely excluded from the AI bias debate although the use of AI often exacerbates the marginalisation of persons with disabilities.

Aimee van Wynsberghe
© Humboldt-Stiftung

Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Artificial Intelligence 2021

Aimee van Wynsberghe is the Alexander von Humboldt Professor for Artificial Intelligence (AI). She is sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and its sponsor, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Humboldt Stiftung
© Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung
Sustainable AI Conference 2021
© Christopher Burns - Unsplash

Launch of the Bonn Sustainable AI Lab

The Sustainable AI Lab is a space for excellent researchers from different fields to work, collaborate, and brainstorm about the environmental, social, and economic costs of designing, developing, and using AI across society.

A short clip of the lab launch is available on YouTube.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Pixabay - freie Verwendung

Researching Ethical AI

Stiftung Mercator awards €3.8 Million to the Universities of Bonn and Cambridge
 
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming society as algorithms increasingly impact access to jobs and insurance, justice, medical treatments, as well as our daily interactions with friends and family. As these technologies race ahead, we are starting to see unintended social consequences: algorithms that promote everything from racial bias in healthcare to the misinformation eroding faith in democracies. To ensure AI supports core human values, the German philanthropic foundation Stiftung Mercator has awarded a €3.8 million grant to a collaboration between the Universities of Bonn and Cambridge.

Click here for more information.

IWE in 2 minutes

The IWE has created a series of short videos in which we introduce ourselves, present our projects and promote our events.
New episodes are published on our YouTube channel every Friday.

Sustainable AI Conference 2023

In June 2023 the second Sustainable AI Conference "Sustainable AI Across Borders" took place.
You can watch in on our YouTube channel.

Interviews, panels and podcasts with Aimee van Wynsberghe

On the following page you will find a selection of interviews with Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe from the last two years.

Art Engagement

The Bonn Sustainable AI Lab regularly collaborates with artists and designers, for example in the framework of the ArtScience Residency.

Data Pollution & Power
© IWE

Data Pollution & Power - Initiative

The Data Pollution & Power (DPP) Initiative explores the power dynamics that shape the data pollution of AI across the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We examine the data of AI as a human and natural resource in data eco-systems of power and consider actions and governance approaches that are intrinsically interrelated in systems of power and interests. The initiative is led by the independent senior researcher Gry Hasselbalch.
It is set up at the Bonn University’s Institute for Science and Ethics’ Sustainable AI Lab.

Contact

Institut für Wissenschaft und Ethik 

Contact

+49 228 / 73-8100

iwe@iwe.uni-bonn.de

Address

Institut für Wissenschaft und Ethik
Bonner Talweg 57
53113 Bonn
Germany

Sustainable AI Lab

Contact

+49 228 / 73-8120

michler@iwe.uni-bonn.de

Address

Institut für Wissenschaft und Ethik
Sustainable AI Lab
Bonner Talweg 57
53113 Bonn
Germany

Wird geladen