Gender Equality and Digitalisation
CitizenScience.AI
2022 was the kick-off for a model project that uses interactive formats to explore the links between artificial intelligence (AI) and socially relevant topics.
The project is implemented within the framework of the equality strategy of ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig in collaboration with the Research Area Responsible AI.
The Data Science Center ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig - Center for Scalable Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence - is a center for artificial intelligence funded within the framework of the federal government's AI strategy.
In the future, the AI competence center will conduct research on 17 research topics in five interrelated areas of AI, Big Data and data science research. The rapid transfer of research results into scientific and business applications will be focused. The transfer and service center serves as a key factor for new collaborations and successful transfer activities in numerous projects in science and industry.
Our main topics in this project are:
- gender equality
- participatory justice
- sustainability and cultural diversity
On the one hand, we aim to build a frame of reference with people developing AI in the sense of a continuation of the value chain, in which these topics are integrated and on the basis of which the added value in the development of AI applications can be derived.
On the other hand, we use various event formats to inform and discuss the diverse possibilities, but also the limits, of AI and its influence on social processes with a focus on the group of users inside and outside the university campus. In all interaktions different methods of sustainable learning will be applied. It is also important for us to organize and conduct an open and international dialogue about the challenges of integrating AI into different societies and cultural milieus under the parameters of global tensions. All of this will take place in our series of events PILLARS & UMBRELLAS.
The results of both strands of activity will be mirrored back to each other in the spirit of transfer.
Event Series PILLARS & UMBRELLAS

Team CitizenScience.AI - Dr. Stephanie Feilitzsch, Marie Kukuczka, Chi Ziesmann, Dr. Jutta Luise Eckhardt
PILLARS & Umbrellas opened in fall 2022 with a film series.
In 2023 we start with an online lecture "Overcoming Borders with and in AI - China as a Scientific Cooperation Partner from a Cultural Perspective", speaker is Chi Ziesmann.
Other events: Visual Takes - documentaries and films, Hands-On Material - playing and developing, Dialogue - tents and panels.
Does intelligence require consciousness? The metaphor of the cyborg as a hybrid of machine and organism symbolizes the fusion of nature, technology and culture. This raises questions about identity and the dissolution of boundaries.
The first three events will take place on Wednesdays, this will be October 12th, November 23rd and December 7th at 8:00 pm at the Kino im Kasten, August-Bebel-Straße 20, 01219 Dresden. All interested parties are cordially invited, admission is free.
Dates:
12.10.22 - "The Social Dilemma" - Documentary film, introduction by André Wendler
The first evening takes a look at America, where social media platform operators are essentially driving the development and funding of AI. A feature-length documentary focuses on the potential risks of social media, especially on our mental health. In the supporting program, we are joined by media culture scholar André Wendler for a discussion.
23.11.22 - "Coded Bias"- Documentary film, introduction by Josephine D´Ippolito
The second documentary addresses the desire for inclusive facial recognition software through the fresh lens of a digital activist. Numerous examples are used to show how AI algorithms multiply racial and gender biases. One area of application is video surveillance, which is ubiquitous in China and is also used in Germany, for example, at train stations, airports or border controls. The speaker of the evening is Josephine D'Ippolito, who is concerned with the reflection of gender and AI in the medium of film.
07.12.22 -"HER" - Feature film
The protagonist of the science fiction film drama shown in December professionally writes empathetic letters for people who have difficulty revealing their own feelings to their counterparts. What does a person need to develop feelings? After the breakup of his long-term relationship, he falls in love with the voice of his newly installed operating system, which is based on artificial intelligence. To what extent is such love possible?
The collaborative project Pillars & Umbrellas is funded by the German federal and state governments as part of the Excellence Strategy.

Project Team CitizenScience.AI
Send encrypted mail via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
History Added Value through more perspektives 2018
First experiences with generating frames of reference, which can be used to discuss individual and collective value grids and motivations for action, have been available since 2018. In several workshops we got acquainted with the Gender Extended Research & Development Model (project: GERD-Model) [i] designed by Prof. Dr. Claude Draude, Kamila Wajda and Prof. Dr. Susanne Maaß.
„ADDED-VALUE through more perspectives“ was a project in TU Dresden's Institutional Strategy that was carried out in the summer semester of 2018. The core concerns were the systematic sensitization for and targeted reflection of gender and diversity aspects in all stages of research and development in the STEM subjects. The aim was to broaden the view of one's own subject as well as to find new starting points for interdisciplinary discourse. A guest professor each was invited for the schools of engineering, mathematics/natural sciences and construction/ environment. These female scientists gave lectures and accompanied area-specific workshops.
The project was implemented by the Office of the Gender Equality and Women's Representative in cooperation with the GenderConceptGroup.
[i] Cf. Draude, Claude; Maaß, Susanne; Wajda Kami¬la: GERD - a process model for integrating gender/diversity in computer science. In: Anja Zeising, Claude Draude, Heidi Schelhowe, Susanne Maaß (Eds.): Vielfalt der Informatik - Ein Beitrag zu Selbstverständnis und Außenwirkung, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Bremen 2014, pp.197-283. URL: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:gbv:46-00104194-14 - Last accessed 30.06.2022.