Science Peace Security: Technology and the Transformation of Political Violence

Conference taking place on September 20-22 2023 in Darmstadt

The interdisciplinary conference examines the impact, control and design of technologies which influence peace and security. Existing approaches towards arms control need to adapt to the changing security landscape, while new civilian and military technologies are changing forms of violence and warfare. Particularly striking areas are cyber warfare and the rapid development of unmanned weapons systems. Issues of nuclear disarmament, missile technology or space weaponry, as well as chemical and biological weapons, are gaining renewed urgency. In addition to the development of new weapons systems, information technology also plays a significant role in the oppression and digital surveillance of civilians during conflicts, and in policing urban space.

The interdisciplinary conference Science · Peace · Security '23 aims to facilitate fruitful discussions on current and future challenges in the field of technical peace and conflict research. The local organisation committee consists of  Christian Reuter, Sybille Frank, Nicolai Hannig, Markus Lederer, Laura Guntrum, Verena Lasso Mena, Thea Riebe, Jona Schwerer and Sara-Luise Spittler. The conference is organized by TraCe in cooperation with FONAS.

ICT4Peace - The Role of Information and Communication Technology in (Digital) Peacebuilding

What are the possibilities and risks of promoting peacebuilding through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)? What are the needs and challenges of practitioners? And how can they benefit from scientific findings? The conference will feature a TraCe dialogue panel to foster exchange between researchers and practitioners.

Registration

Registration is open until August 20, 2023. Later registrations will only be considered in case of cancellations. Please register here: https://sps.peasec.de/sps23/registration/.

Logo der diesjährigen Science Peace Security

Preliminary Conference Program (Short Version)

Full Program

Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg-Haus | Dieburger Str. 241 | 64287 Darmstadt

  • Wednesday, September 20
    • 1800 Welcome Reception
    • 1845 Keynote Prof. Mariarosaria Taddeo (KI und Defense Ethic, Uni Oxford)
    • 1945 Welcome Dinner
  • Thursday, September 21
    • 0900 Opening and Introduction
    • 0930 Keynote Prof. Alice Mattoni (Uni Bologna, Political Sciences, Social Movement)
    • 1030 Coffee Break
    • 1100 Sessions I (Nuclear Arms Control) & II (Geopolitics of Infrastructures)
    • 1200 Lunch Break
    • 1330 Sessions III (Autonomous Systems and Human-Machine Interaction) & IV (Civilian Infrastructure and Protest)
    • 1430 Coffee Break and Poster Session
    • 1600 TraCe Dialogpanel (ICT4Peace) & Workshop (Thinking about the future)
    • 1800 Guided Tour Mathildenhöhe
    • 1930 Conference Dinner
    • 2115 IANUS-Award Ceremony
  • Friday, September 22
    • 0900 Opening and Introduction
    • 0915 Sessions V (Dual-use and Technology Assessment) & VI (Cyber Operations)
    • 1030 Coffee Break
    • 1100 Sessions VII (Biological, Chemical and Conventional Weapons) & VIII (Technology Politics and Strategies)
    • 1215 Lunch Break
    • 1330 Panel Discussion (New Military Technologies - Fundamental Challanges to the International System?)
    • 1430 Closing