University of Zurich | Ethics in Complex Systems: Perspectives and challenges

Aim

Complexity science studies how a large collection of components can spontaneously self-organize to exhibit non-trivial, unpredictable global structures and behaviors at larger scales, having many applications with daily life impacts, e.g., climate change, financial markets, healthcare, polarization, and technological networks. Characteristics of these systems, such as having non-linear emerging dynamics and being adaptive, pose unique ethical challenges, as traditional normative ethical approaches often struggle to account for such dynamic and intricate interactions.

This one-day interdisciplinary workshop aims at bridging the gap between researchers in complexity science and ethics and offers a new perspective on why ethics discussions are necessary in such a complex research realm.

When?

October 9, 2025

Where?

This event is hybrid.

In-person attendance:SOC Ramistrasse, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (Digital Society Initiatives)

For online attendance, the Zoom link will be shared with registered participants prior to the event.

Registration

Deadline: October 1, 2025

Register here: https://forms.gle/GSPJoSUDgNvYp1EZ8

Registration is free of charge. Attendees are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.

If you need a confirmation letter or visa assistance, please email Yasaman.asgari@math.uzh.ch

Target Audience

Graduate students, interdisciplinary researchers, and members of the public or industry who have an interest in complexity science or ethics.

Focus Group Participants: Graduate students eager to engage in ethical discussions surrounding complex problems. No prior knowledge of complexity science is required.

Source and more details: https://ethics.dsi.uzh.ch/project/ethics-in-complex-systems/