Academia at the Digital Crossroads

This symposium will examine the complex dynamics between large commercial publishing and research information platforms, open science initiatives, and emerging AI technologies in shaping the future of academic knowledge production, with particular attention to questions of surveillance and data autonomy.

It brings together perspectives from policy-makers, researchers, publishers and activists. We will explore both opportunities — such as improved global access and innovative research tools — and challenges, including concerns around  data privacy, academic autonomy, and equitable access to research.

The event is organized by SSiGNAll Surveillance Studies Group at the University of Groningen, Young Academy Groningen, University of Groningen Library, Data Autonomy Theme at the Jantina Tammes School Groningen.

Academia at the digital crossroads: Opportunities, risks, and academic freedom in the age of Big Tech and AI

The digital revolution has transformed the academic publishing and research infrastructure. This has led to radical changes in how knowledge is created, disseminated, and accessed. Digital technology enables people worldwide to openly access research publications and research data. Moving to the digital domain has made publishing also more accessible. The systematic collection of and the instant access to publication metadata by software platforms and aggregators such as Pure, Scopus and Google Scholar makes literature research more efficient, and quantitative comparisons and academic rankings easier. The rise of artificial intelligence further promises to transform research practices.

However, these developments also raise new questions for the academic community – both on a theoretical and practical level: What is our vision on the question of power and justice in a digital society? How do academic institutions fit into that vision? What is a desirable distribution of rights and power between researchers, universities, Big Tech companies, data brokers, and profit or non-profit publishers? How do we deal with the dangers of surveillance capitalism and the tracking of researchers and students? Who should profit from the AI revolution? Where is the line between beneficial cooperation with and undesirable dependence on commercial publishers or Big Tech companies? How do we safeguard academic freedom in the digital age?

Programme