The digital transformation (DT) encompasses the digitalization, connectivity and virtualization of many aspects of our social, political, economic and cultural life. But it does not stop here. The resulting abundance of data and the fast development of ICT tools to aggregate, process and analyze these data including self- or deep-learning algorithms further widens and deepens the impact of DT. As a consequence, DT will have strong ramifications for the social sciences and humanities, i.e. those branches of science that study individuals and groups, social, economic and political systems, culture and history.

The aim is to discuss the impact of DT on the social sciences and humanities during the two-day academic workshop. It will consist of three parts. The first part will address the impact of DT for research questions and research design. The second part will discuss the possible implications of DT with regard to the dissemination of research outcomes. The third part will consider how DT might change the organization and institutional set-up of academia. Who will conduct research? Where will it be conducted? Will disciplinary boundaries remain relevant?

The third part of the workshop will include a talk by KWI fellow Martina Franzen who will address the subject of „SSH in the age of Big Data. What is at stake?“.

The workshop will be followed by a conference addressing a larger public audience. The conference will start with two keynote lectures, one of them will be given by Martina Franzen as well.