Research projects

PartWiss - PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE 3.0 Networking scientific communities and stakeholders to strengthen participation in science in Germany, BMBF 2024-2027

The core task of the joint project PartWiss is the conception and organisation of the conference series of the same name. The conferences, which will take place annually until 2026, are designed as a practice-oriented and interactive forum with the aim of sustainably promoting the development of expertise and networks as well as the exchange of knowledge in the field of participation in science. Participatory approaches are becoming increasingly important in many fields of research, from participatory social and health research to citizen science, transdisciplinary and transformative research approaches and participatory technology assessment. These and other research modes of participatory and transdisciplinary science are based on a large plurality of participating actors, traditions and experiences as well as theories and methods, which, however, have so far had little exchange with each other. The aim of the PartWiss conferences on networking and strengthening participation in science is to intensify the scientific exchange on the challenges and potentials of participatory and transdisciplinary research and to strengthen the networking of stakeholders.PartWiss is a joint project of Chemnitz University of Technology, CeRRI, Fraunhofer IAO, the Technischen Universität Berlin, the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung and the Deutschen Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung. The Gesellschaft für transdisziplinäre und partizipative Forschung e.V. and mit:forschen! are associated partners of the project.

Further information at: partizipation-wissenschaft.de

Simplications - Implications of (supposedly) simple sensor data for privacy in the home, BMBF ‘Plattform Privatheit’ 2023-26

The use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the ‘smart home’ promises consumers more convenience, security and efficiency in their everyday lives. To this end, networked sensors are increasingly being used to collect a lot of supposedly simple data - such as humidity, temperature, brightness or movement. These sensors are installed in homes by residents or third parties (landlords, relatives) or are integrated into household appliances and everyday objects such as smart TVs. In contrast to the risks and implications of smart devices that capture video and audio, such as ‘smart speakers’, there is a lack of awareness and understanding of the risks and implications of supposedly simple sensor data for privacy, particularly in public discourse.

Together with consumers, Simplications will conduct participatory research into the possible implications of using supposedly simple sensors in the home. Simplications will then design and deploy digital education media and interventions that contribute to a more informed design and use of sensor data applications in the home. We call this combined approach of participatory research and design of educational offers for transfer via civil society organisations Privacy by Co-Design, and thus want to add the element of participation to the established Privacy by Design.

The project is being carried out in cooperation with the Professur Medieninformatik at Chemnitz University of Technology, the Professur Mensch-Computer-Interaktion der Hochschule Anhalt and the Saxony Consumer Advice Centre.

More information at: https://simplications.tucmi.de/

Participatory exploration of possible technical support for family carers and older people to reduce the risks of old-age security (PaxUnpARiA), FNA/DRV Bund 2023-24

As part of the pilot project, the participants are investigating what the everyday life of family carers looks like and how this can be supported by the use of robotics or technology, with a qualitative exploration of the everyday life of family carers on the one hand and the participatory development of possible technical assistance on the other. Family carers and care recipients are addressed as co-designers and experts of their living environment. We want to empower participants in workshops to propose their own solutions for supporting their everyday lives using robotics/technology.

The ideas, scenarios and prototypes expressed in the workshops will be critically reflected on together with the participants to determine the extent to which they have the potential to increase the compatibility of care and employment. This will provide a clearer picture of the obstacles that family carers face in terms of reconciling work and care, and where the opportunities and limitations of technical solutions such as robotics lie.

You can find a detailed description and the project schedule here.

The project is being organised in cooperation with the Professur Neurorobotik at Chemnitz University of Technology.

NUMIC 2.0, BMBF flagship initiative City of the Future 2022-24

The aim of the follow-up project NUMIC 2.0 is to sustainably change the transport behaviour of citizens and to empower various stakeholders to have a qualified say in transport planning processes. This results in social impact potentials for activating society, which, with the normative goals of sustainable mobility awareness, radiate into the ecological impact potentials of sustainable urban planning. The cooperation between municipal administration and science with the strong involvement of the various stakeholders is intended to strengthen the impact potential as a transdisciplinary approach.

The project is being organised in cooperation with the Professur Arbeitswissenschaft und Innovationsmanagement and the Forschungsgruppe Allgemeine & Arbeitspsychologie at Chemnitz University of Technology, as well as the City of Chemnitz.

More information at: https://numic.city/

Chances and limits of participation in science, BMBF Participation Strategy 2022-24

Our aim is to sustainably promote the development of competences and networks as well as the exchange of knowledge in the field of participation in science. As part of the German Year of Science ‘in demand!’ 2022, the various scientific communities, actors from the field of participation and, of course, representatives of civil society organisations are invited to map the landscape of participatory formats, define similarities and differences in terms of content and discuss success factors for participation in research in working groups.

The project is being organised in cooperation with the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN).

More information at: https://www.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin/de/wissenschaft/chancen-und-grenzen-der-partizipation-der-wissenschaft

Smart technology. Great helpers?, BMBF Science Year 2022

Chemnitz is the city with the largest 65+ population in Europe. For many older people, their own home is the centre of their lives, where they want to live independently and for a long time. Whether in the media and electronics market or in the discounter - smart technical support systems are on offer. These promise security and convenience, from door alarms and automatic heating to taps for the forgetful. It remains to be seen what people over 65 think about them. What opinions do older citizens in Chemnitz have about these technical (support) systems? As researchers, we therefore ask - and allow ourselves to be asked: What does ‘support’ mean to older people and how do they want to receive it through technical systems? Which sensors are useful, which ones monitor me unnecessarily? Where is my data stored and which digital guests are uninvited? In a cosy technology café, we get talking, ask questions and follow up. We are active at hands-on afternoons, where we take apart a smart loudspeaker. Or tinkering with a really useful assistant together. The topic of security, when everything is networked, is not neglected either.

Further information can be found at: https://www.hochschulwettbewerb.net/2022/chemnitz/

Re-Thinking Care Robots, Volkswagen Foundation ‘Artificial Intelligence - Its Impact on Tomorrow's Society’ 2019-22

In order to reshape research and design practices and develop alternative visions for robots in care, new interdisciplinary collaborations and new methods of design and evaluation are needed. Our interdisciplinary constellation of designers, HCI researchers, roboticists and STS scientists will enable us to rethink from the ground up how care robots should look and ‘work’, applying contemporary design methods in a rapid prototyping and design-driven approach.

The project was organised in cooperation with the Professuren Human-Computer Interaction and Produktdesign at the Bauhaus University Weimar and SDU Robotics at the University of Odense. The application partners were OK Fonden in Denmark and Sophienhaus der Diakonie Weimar.

Further information can be found at: http://www.rethicare.info/

"Mitmach_X - Participatory Design for the IoT," BMBF innovation and technology analysis 2019-21