The ITM also welcomed Prof. Dr. Jeanette Hofmann and her research assistant Dr. Lena Ulbricht from the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB), Prof. Dr. Johannes Weyer and his research assistant Marc Delisle from TU Dortmund University and Yvonne Attenberger from LMU Munich. Yvonne Attenberger will work under the direction of Prof. Dr. Dres. h.c. Arnold Picot will explore the topic of big data from an economic perspective, Prof. Dr. Johannes Weyer from a sociological perspective and Prof. Dr. Hofmann from a political science perspective. The various project partners presented their institutes, areas of interest and preliminary objectives. Exciting discussions arose about possible interfaces between the various disciplines. Over the next four years, ABIDA will continuously monitor the discussion surrounding the topic of big data and advance it by forming working groups with external experts from various disciplines, population surveys, in-depth studies, expert ellipses, citizens’ conferences, scenarios and a symposium. Now that the official kick-off meeting (http://www.bmbf.de/_media/press/PM_0506-057.pdf) with the sponsor, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, has also taken place in Berlin on May 6, the starting signal for ABIDA has finally been given.
