"In this seminar at Goethe University social science and computer science meet,in an interdisciplinary all-round approach to the critical and the computational. What does that mean? It means you can eat your cake and have it too:
learning how algorithms work,
and discussing how they impact society.
This course is designed for computer science students, sociology studentsand students of science and technology studies (STS). If you're curious but have a different study background, come by anyway.
In the summer semester 2025 this seminar will take place as a block seminar."
("Introductory Session on Monday 05.05.2024 at 14.00-16:00online ",
"Block I13.06.2025 from 10:00(ct) - 16.00 atSeminarpavillon Westend - SP 2.02 "
14.06.2025 from 10:00(ct) - 16.00 atSeminarhaus SH - SH 2.102 "
"Block II04.07.2025 from 10:00(ct) - 16.00 at)IG-Farben-Haus - IG 457 "
05.07.2025 from 10:00(ct) - 16.00 atSeminarhaus SH - SH 2.102 "
0: [ Seminar Constitution ],
1: [ Block I - Frankfurt ],
1a: Intro to Graph Algorithms,2: [ Block II - Frankfurt],
1b: Intro to STS ,
1c: Matching Algorithms,
1d: Flow Networks ,
1e: Infinite Scroll ,
1f: Recommendation Algorithms ,
2a: Essay Discussion,}
2b: Intro to Sci Comm,
2c: Excercise Sci Comm,
2d: Feminist STS ,
2e: Facial Recognition ,
2f: Wrap up & Science Jam ,
if date == "05.05.2025":
title =
"Seminar Constitution
description =
"We discuss our plan for the seminar and talk about our expectations and prior experiences with thinking socially about algorithms. Also, we form groups and set up our tools."
room =
"We meet online in the following room:"
https://public.senfcall.de/itbw
if date == "13.06.2025":
title =
"1a : Intro to Graph Algorithms"
description =
"In this session we get to know a fundamental concept of computer science: the graph. What is it? What can we do with it? The answers is algorithms of course, a lot of elegant algorithms, as the ones we will encounter later in this course, run on graphs."
title =
"1b : Intro to Science and
description =
"An session to introduce the theoretical framework and scope of Science and Technology Studies. This is an academic field that emerged from a the same space as sociology and specifically examines how knowledge and technological items are influenced by the society that makes them."
title =
"1c : Swipe, Match, Stability & Heteronormativity"
description =
"In this session, we encounter the »deferred acceptance«
algorithm, proposed by Gale and Shapley 1962, famous for matching men and women in heterosexual dating.
What social assumptions can we find in the design of this algorithm? What happened if we tweaked the algorithm to reflect other social roles and assumptions?"
if date == "14.06.2025":
title =
"1d : Flow Networks
description =
Building upon the previous session we bring the graph to life by looking at our own social networks as graphs. As social network are full of exchange we encounter a new tool from computer science: Flow Networks.
We learn about their structure, what algorithms we can use on them and if their results can teach us something new about our social environment."
title =
"1e : Infinite Scroll"
description =
"Which algorithms guide us on the platforms we use every day?
How do they work and how could they work better for us? We look
back on the invention of infinite scroll and towards an
apparent future »TikTokization« of social media."
title =
"1f : You Might Also Like..."
description =
"... this next session: Automatic recommendations can be found everywhere where someone is interested in keeping you on their
site a little longer, from online shops to for-you-pages. In
this session, we will focus on the use of recommendation
algorithms on Social Media platforms, discuss its function for individualization and the common concept of filter bubbles."
if date == "04.07.2025":
title =
"2a : Essay Discussion"
description =
"Part of the seminar's requirements is the writing of an essay on a topic of your choice. In this session, we will discuss your essays and thereby recap the previous seminar block."
title =
"2b : Introduction to Science Communication "
description =
"We learn and explore how to make Science Communication effective and fun."
title =
"2c : Science Communication in practice"
description =
"Based on your essays, we develop first drafts for the final presentations and try to find unique, personal ways to convey your ideas in the grand Science Jam at the end of the term."
if date == "05.07.2025":
title =
"2d : Feminist Science and Technology Studies"
description =
"Power relations and structural inequalities are issues often neglected in "classical" Science and Technology Studies - Feminist STS puts them right in the center. This session introduces you with the key concepts of feminist STS and how to apply them to our revisiting of algorithms."
title =
"2e : Facial Recognition Algorithms"
description =
"In the first part of the session, we will take a closer look
at different kinds of facial recognition algorithms: What is it that these algorithms recognize and how? We then discuss the consequences of such algorithms, especially in a society where surveillance and policing play a growing role."
title =
"2f : Wrap Up and Prep Science Jam"
description =
"We collect our seminar insights and prepare them for the stage with a Science Slam Jam, in which you will present your findings with your new Science Communication skills."