As a contribution to the book collection 'The Politics of Replacement: Demographic Fears, Conspiracy Theories, and Race Wars,’ Jack Wilson and Louie Dean Valencia analyse the manifesto and weapons of the individual who perpetrated the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings. Discussing the so-called ‘Great Replacement’ conspiracy theory and the user culture of the platform 4chan – both of which are associated with the individual – they argue that the historical references written on the individual's gun can be situated within historical-national discourses on the topic of ‘Western Civilisation’ in his home country, Australia. Such discourses predate the aforementioned conspiracy theory and platform, and thus the authors argue that situating the individual therein may offer a more comprehensive understanding of their ideological motivations.

Drs. Janna Joceli Omena and Michael Castelle participated in the 3-day conference “Generative Methods — AI as Collaborator and Companion in the Social Sciences and Humanities” held at Aalborg University in Copenhagen, which aimed to explore the multifaceted impact of generative AI as both instruments and objects of research.

We are excited to say that we are starting a new phase of growth. As we plan for the future, we will be making multiple new appointments for an Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Reader in one or more of the following fields:

1. AI and society, including ethics and governance
2. digital media and/or digital methods
3. environment, ecology and sustainability
4. digital health and society.

See full job description and application here

Join us for an invited talk by Derya Akbaba, Linköping University "Staying with the Trouble: Applying Feminism to Visualization Research" at MS0.5 Zeeman Building on 29th November 2023, 3:00-4:30.

Derya will talk about her research that builds on extant work at the intersection of feminism and visualization by engaging with feminist theories to further trouble common assumptions within visualization research. Click through the title for further details.

CIM researcher Michael Dieter (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/cim/people/michael-dieter/Link opens in a new window) will present his ongoing work on super apps at Resonate/ESRC Festival of Social Science. The talk will take place on Thursday, 26 October 2023, 18:30-21:00 at 1 Mill Street, Lemington Spa, CV31 1ES

Cycling benefits are well known in the context of public health, sustainable transportation, and climate change. Even more benefits come from commuting by bike. However, commuting by bike is primarily only popular in areas where cycling is popular in general. My research focuses on cycling in London.

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with an impressive public transport network, expanding cycling infrastructure, a popular image of cycle highways, bike sharing city and foldable bikes. Although London has the highest level of cycling across the UK, it has very low rates of bike commuting – and low equity level.

This study examines ethnic inequity in cycling. Do ethnic minorities in London have equal chances of cycling to work? What affects propensity to cycle to work across London? Does a higher percentage of ethnic minorities in a region reduce the proportion of bike commuters?

This research reveals the ethnic inequity in cycling to work in London regions: ethnic minorities are less likely to cycle due to spatially dependent inequalities.

Overall, my study focused on London, but cycling inequity is true for a lot of cities.

The recognition of ethnic inequity in cycling to work (and proving it with a spatial model) is the first step towards making policy changes.

My research reconfirms a need to address the cycling inequity in transportation policies with consideration to mobilities justice. This means that policy should address the needs of distinct groups of cyclists of various ethnic backgrounds.

Today in the Sociological Review Magazine, you can find the annotated portfolio for the Shifting AI Controversies workshop, showcasing the most relevant and pivotal design choices during the Shape Shifter development. Download the Annotated PortfolioLink opens in a new window

Report about the interdisciplinary workshop Models in/of Security, hosted at CIM on the 18^th of April, bringing together a group of scholars interested in exploring and understanding the interface between modelling practices and security practices.

What features of AI have triggered controversy among experts during the last 10 years? Academics in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (University of Warwick) have published a report outlining provisional results of the ESRC-funded research project Shaping AI which investigates recent controversies and public discussions around AI in four countries (the UK, Germany, France and Canada).