On April 8, 2025, Hans Akkermans, Digital Humanism Visiting Professor at TU Wien and IWM Visiting Senior Fellow, will discuss the new role of computer science as an instrument for major powers to colonize the world, while advocating for the “decolonization of the future”.

About the Event

April 8, 2025
5:00 – 6:00 PM
(17:00) CEST

This is a hybrid event. We are looking forward to seeing you:
Participate via Zoom (Password: 0dzqxqiy). The talk will take place at TU Wien in Vienna and will also be live-streamed and recorded on the DIGHUM YouTube Channel.

Abstract

Scanning through the history of Computer Science (incl. personal experiences and anecdotes), we observe that there have been and are many different images of what Computer Science (CS) is. Once it was a “New Kid on the Block” in the STEM scientific hierarchy of the “exact” sciences (“practically very useful, but not really scientific”). Now it is hailed as the geopolitical key to a global Digital Transformation that is proclaimed to revolutionize every sector of society and economy (not to forget War and Peace). CS, however, has had major difficulty in acknowledging and coming to terms with its own social and societal nature; but with an outdated self-image it is not ready for the future. CS is becoming an instrument for major powers to colonize the digital world and from there the “real” world, in ways reminiscent of what the 19th century colonial powers did during the Industrial Revolution. The (also scientific) task at hand is then to Decolonize the Future. In line with such a reverse perspective, the talk will end, not with Q&A, but with an A&Q session.

Slides

Slides will be avaliable for download after the lecture.

Video

Recording will be available after the lecture.