May 13th 2025 11.45 – 13.15 outdoor HS Kosuta (V.1.27 in case of rain)

About:
Dipl.-Ing. Merna Tohfa is a research and teaching staff member at the Institute
of Networked and Embedded Systems at the University of Klagenfurt.

Abstract : Deforestation in many countries worldwide has led to a significant reduction
in forest areas and a rise in the frequency and intensity of fires, exacerbated by climate
change. The disappearance of native forests contributes to higher net carbon dioxide
emissions in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect associated with global
warming [1]. A solution to that problem can be Using drones for aerial seeding in forest
restoration, which holds significant promise but encounters major obstacles that hinder
its efficiency and scalability. Existing methods typically involve blanket seeding across
the entire restoration area, resulting in a large number of seeds being dispersed, many of
which land in locations where they cannot successfully grow [2]. In this research, we
propose Multi-UAV route planning methods that focus on covering selected clusters of
forest land to seed those that have high germination rates instead of seeding all areas of
forest land.

We are excited to announce the publication of “Democratic Algorithms: Ethnography of a Public Recommender System” by Nikolaus Poechhacker, an exploration into the intersection of algorithm design and democratic values, published by meson press. In his work, Nikolaus Poechhacker ethnographically examines the creation of an algorithmic recommender system within a public broadcaster, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of integrating democratic principles into algorithmic design, raising questions not only about organizational and technical implementation, but also about the possible compatibility of such an algorithmic system with democratic constitutions.

Through comprehensive ethnographic research, Nikolaus Poechhacker addresses pivotal questions on value-by-design processes in the making of algorithmic systems and highlights that making democratic algorithms is an ongoing process, even after the implementation of the software. Further, the book provides careful suggestions, how social theory can help to grasp the complex phenomenon of algorithmic systems. As such, Democratic Algorithms explores theoretically and empirically informed perspectives on how we can imagine and design algorithms for a democratic society, and what we even mean by that.

This publication is available in both print and pdf (open access). For more information and to obtain a copy, visit meson press.

About the Author: Nikolaus Poechhacker is post-doctoral researcher at the Digital Age Research Center (D!ARC) of the University of Klagenfurt and research fellow at the Department of Innovation and Digitalization of Law, University of Vienna. His work focuses on the sociopolitical and -legal dimensions of digital technology bringing together perspectives from media theory, STS, computer science, and sociology.