Under the guiding question, “What can digitalisation contribute to the sustainable transformation of society?”, the junior research group, in cooperation with a broad alliance of actors from civil society and academia, held a public networking conference at Technische Universität Berlin in 2018. This was the starting point of the Bits & Bäume (Bits & Trees) movement. Since then, various actors in the alliance have addressed topics such as alternative economies, data and the environment, the material basis of digitalisation, digital capitalism, urban-rural-smart as well as civil society and communities.
Since 2018, Forum Bits & Bäume continues to offer an open discussion space in order to put greater emphasis on the sustainable design of digitalisation, and to introduce scientific and civil society topics and demands into the political discourse. The events are held in dialogue formats with active workshop elements in order to develop precise policy proposals and design options, and to prepare them for public and political discussion. The Forum Bits & Bäume is organised by the scientific research group “Digitalisation and Social-Ecological Transformation” of IÖW and TU Berlin, in cooperation with the Einstein Center Digital Future and other partners. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via its Social-Ecological Research (SÖF) funding focus.
What is the mission of the project?
Strengthening the public debate on digitalisation and sustainability, while connecting communities that are engaged in environmental and climate policy debates as well as digital policy issues.
Where and when did the project start?
The first public networking conference was held on 17 and 18 November, 2018 at TU Berlin, Germany. This fruitful event marked the start of the Bits & Bäume movement.
Where is the project offered today?
Germany
To whom is this project aimed? Who belongs to your target group?
To digital-political, political, ecological and sustainability actors, development cooperation actors, and the interested audience.