20614: Navigating the Crossroads: Multidisciplinary Discourse for a Sustainable and Digital Transformation

The ongoing digital transformation is profoundly reshaping industries and societies. However, the interplay between this digital advancements and sustainability is inherently complex, offering both opportunities and challenges for our environment and society. Digital technologies hold the promise of enhancing efficiency, reducing resource consumption, and facilitating the addressing of pressing societal challenges. Conversely, they also pose substantial risks, including environmental hazards and ethical dilemmas such as algorithmic bias. Striking a balance between leveraging the benefits of digital transformation and mitigating its environmental and social repercussions is imperative for cultivating a sustainable future. In this professional development workshop (PDW), we aim to initiate a critical dialogue on the concept of "twin transformation"—the concurrent evolution toward more digital and sustainable societies—through a multidisciplinary lens. Participants will be introduced to emerging key themes at the intersection of research and practice, engaging in a rigorous exploration of the advantages and obstacles associated with these two pivotal transformations. We aspire to foster an enriched discussion that integrates both normative and empirical dimensions of the twin transformation. This PDW will convene a diverse group of experts to contribute to an open debate, striving to outline actionable pathways for harmonizing digital innovation with sustainable development.

In memory of Johannes Kriebel, whose work on the intersection of sustainability, AI and digital transformation laid the foundation for this PDW. Johannes was a passionate and thoughtful researcher, whose insights and ideas deeply shaped our understanding of the potential of digital transformation for sustainability research and practice. Beyond his academic contributions, he was a generous collaborator and a kind soul. We are grateful to have worked alongside him and dedicate this session to his memory.