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Tech Hub
28 March 2024

New Study Group: Science and Technology in International Relations

Our institute's legacy of pioneering innovation in the intersection of technology and international relations dates back to the late 1960s. Through the Science and Technology in International Relations Study Group and the Center for the Study and Teaching of Audiovisual Sources, we've cultivated collaborations with esteemed institutions like CERN and ITU. Now, with the launch of the new Study Group on Science and Technology in International Relations, we're embracing a transdisciplinary approach to explore the profound implications of emerging technologies on global affairs, building upon our rich history of scholarly engagement and innovation.

At the end of 1960s, the institute pioneered in the theorization of technology. The Science and Technology in International Relations Study Group (1970-1978) organized numerous workshops on a wide range of topics ranging from the the technological gap in Latin America, Problems of International Co-operation in Communications Satellites, Mass-media, Nuclear Arms Control, and the Nexus between Environment, Technology, and Development to name only few. Led by Prof. Kowarski, this group served as a pioneering platform for the theoretical exploration of the burgeoning field.

In 1996, Prof. Collart founded the Center for the Study and Teaching of Audiovisual Sources (CHERSA, 1996-2003), dedicated to harnessing the potential of multimedia resources in scholarly endeavors. CHERSA supervised doctoral theses and offered training on a variety of topics, reflecting its profound impact on historical research and teaching. It also included the realization of innovative projects, such as the Geneva Video Collection on Diplomacy, designed to preserve and disseminate testimonies of Geneva's diplomatic life.

Both groups cultivated strategic collaborations with Geneva-based technological institutions such as CERN and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

In keeping with this rich legacy, the Tech Hub is proud to launch a new phase of scholarly engagement with the establishment of the Study Group on Science and Technology in International Relations. Embracing a transdisciplinary approach, this initiative aims to convene a diverse cohort of students, scholars, policymakers, and experts from a range of disciplines. Central to its mission is the exploration of the intricate nexus between technological advances and their implications for international affairs. Recognizing the transformative potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Study Group seeks to examine their multifaceted implications across geopolitical, societal, and environmental domains.

 

Spring Semester 2024 Agenda:

 

April 11: Henri Bergson’s Turing Test for Humans

May 23: AI & Equality - Human Rights Toolbox

 

For more information, please contact techhub@graduateinstitute.ch