Jochen Blath³

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Critical Phenomena and Challenges Emerging from Dormancy

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In 2022, Jochen Blath joined Goethe University Frankfurt as professor of Stochastics. As a probabilist, he is interested in the mathematically rigorous understanding of the dynamics of stochastic individual-based systems, for example those arising in population biology and evolution, and their scaling limits across multiple scales.

Mathematically, dormancy can be seen as a new paradigm for interacting systems that plays a critical role in many applications, ranging from population genetics and cancer treatment to ecosystem functioning. The abstract classification and identification of the critical features and effects of dormancy is crucial for a conceptual understanding of the ways in which dormant subpopulations store information and impart memory that gives rise to and affects multi-scale structures in space and time, mediated by complex networks of interactions.

Andreas Dengel^​

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Critical Computational Literacy in secondary education

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Since 2021, Andreas Dengel has held the Chair of Computer Science Education at Goethe University Frankfurt and has led the "Engaging Computer Science Education" lab.

His research focuses on immersive learning with virtual and augmented reality, "Computer Science Unplugged" (CS without electricity), and AI education. Dengel is also providing academic support for the introduction of the pilot subject "Digital World" in schools in the German state of Hesse.

Hendrik Drachsler³

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Critical Computational Literacy in secondary education

Hendrik Drachsler is professor of Educational Technologies and Learning Analytics at the German Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education (DIPF) and at the Department of Computer Science at Goethe University Frankfurt. He also serves as director of the university's central innovation unit for technology-enhanced teaching and learning (studiumdigitale).

His research interests include Learning Analytics, Learning Design, AI in Education, Assessment & Feedback, and the impact of these areas on learners, organizations, and the associated societal challenges.

Hendrik Drachslers engagement at C³S within the framework of the DataLIT-AI project (Data Literacy and AI Integration Testing) focuses on researching and promoting the connection between Learning Design and AI in higher education. This involves developing software solutions to measure and enhance AI and literacy competencies among students and educators. DataLIT-AI uses Design-Based Research approaches, combined with randomized experiments in authentic scenarios, to analyze the impact of these solutions on teaching and learning processes. Its goal is to leverage the potential of data-driven approaches and contribute to the sustainable improvement of higher education.

Thomas Hickler³

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Potential and limits of quantitative models to address the interacting challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss

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Martina Klausner

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Collaborative Spaces for Learning and Teaching Critical Computational Studies

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Denise Klinge³

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Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
"Critical Computational and AI Literacy“ in Adult and Continuing Education

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Denise Klinge's project “Critical Computational and AI Literacy" in adult and continuing education (CriticAIL), conducted in cooperation with stakeholders in the field, explores how AI literacy as required by the EU AI Act can be meaningfully articulated for organizations engaged in adult and continuing education. Within this framework, organizations are expected to provide training for their staff in areas such as data ethics and fairness, in order to enhance transparency and oversight concerning both legal and ethical aspects of the digitalization of organizations and the digital organization of people. In an evaluation study grounded in a Design-Based Research approach, current offerings, practices, and experiences of practitioners are collected and analyzed. Based on the insights gained and the needs identified, continuing education modules and self-assessment materials for organizational and pedagogical practices will be developed, tested in real-world settings, and further evaluated.

Katja Langenbucher³

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Short Biography³

Research at C³S, in cooperation with Kevin Bauer:
• Ownership in the Age of AI: A critical Interdisciplinary Perspective
• Expl(AI)ned: The Podcast

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Katja Langenbucher³is a law professor at Goethe-University Frankfurt's House of Finance, affiliated professor at SciencesPo, Paris, and guest professor at Fordham Law School, NYC, fellow with the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE, as well as Principal Investigator at the ZEVEDI group on AI and Finance.

Katja Langenbucher has published extensively on corporate, banking, and securities law.

She is a member of several supervisory boards, especially in the field of the German securities and capital markets.

In the context of her collaboration with C³S, Katja Langenbucher

• conducts an interdisciplinary and international workshop on ownership in the context of artificial intelligence, bringing together economists, legal experts, medical professionals, and artists, as well as scientists and practitioners
• develops an AI podcast in which we will interview scientists and practitioners on current topics related to AI

Gemma Roig³

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Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Critical Computational Analysis of AI Models Learned with Big Data

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Constantin Ruhe³

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Measuring and modelling cooperation in violent conflict

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Constantin Ruhe is professor of Political Science with a Focus on Quantitative Empirical Research Methods at Goethe University Frankfurt. His research focuses on empirical peace and conflict research and applied quantitative research methods.

Constantin Ruhe's recent work analyzes the determinants and the effects of international conflict management attempts in armed conflict and the impact of exposure to violence on individual attitudes and behavior.

Violent conflict is a crucial dimension and driver of a global polycrisis. Armed conflict undermines sustainable development and exacerbates vulnerability to other crises, such as climatic or economic shocks. Easing and ending violent conflicts requires the willingness and ability of actors to cooperate. The project expands current efforts in Constantin Ruhe's research group to quantitatively measure and statistically model (latent) cooperation among armed actors during and after violent conflicts. It aims to provide new and improved measures and more nuanced insights into determinants and outcomes of peace negotiations and the implementation of peace accords.

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Indra Spiecker³genannt Döhmann³

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
• Innovation through experimentation clauses and sandboxes
• Quantity and quality of large data processing

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Indra Spiecker genannt Döhmann, LL.M. has held the Chair of Digitalization Law and has served as Director of the Institute for Digitalization at the University of Cologne since 2024. Prior to that, she was professor of Public Law, Information Law, Environmental Law, and Administrative Sciences at Goethe University Frankfurt.

Indra Spiecker’s research and publications span constitutional and administrative law, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from economics, behavioral science, and technology studies. Her work focuses on the legal frameworks surrounding digital transformation.

Her recent research focuses on democracy and digitalization, the tension between academic freedom and data protection, a potential data access regime for Europe, and the structural foundations of informational administrative law.

At C³S, Indra Spiecker conducts research on the management of large-scale data, proactive cybersecurity, and data protection strategies. Her work includes methodological approaches to verifying data protection-compliant verification of data anonymisation and re-identification in large, real-life data processing systems. A further focus lies on the privacy-preserving use of such systems.

She also investigates the promotion of innovation through experimental legal clauses and regulatory sandboxes, with the aim of advancing regulatory efforts related to data privacy, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Janne Vehreschild³³

Short Biography³

Research at C³S:
Bias and Ownership in Medical AI

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Since 2024, Janne Vehreschild has served as the founding director of the Institute for Digital Medicine and Clinical Data Science at the Faculty of Medicine at Goethe University Frankfurt. The institute focuses on applying data science methods to generate new treatment-relevant insights from medical data, particularly from routine clinical care, as well as on developing and optimizing scientific ecosystems in the field of health research.

In interdisciplinary collaboration with C³S, we aim to explore how both expected and latent (masked) factors influence the classification processes of medical inference systems, and how the outputs of deep neural networks shape the physician-patient interaction.

Our research relies on the fact, that, by its very nature, artificial intelligence seeks the most efficient path to successfully classifying a given task. At the same time, deep neural networks and generative AI offer little transparency regarding their decision-making processes. This poses a significant risk: probabilities and recommendations may be based on misinterpretations or biases within the data, potentially causing harm–particularly to vulnerable populations. Moreover, AI-generated recommendations without human-understandable justification challenge the existing roles and relational dynamics between physicians and patients, exerting a transformative influence.