Abstract: In 2020, the Gemini-centre TechWell was started as a collaboration between SINTEF and UiO, to address concerns about over-reliance on technological solutions as a way to improve general human wellbeing. The centre has worked on a number of activities and projects, including meet-ups and public talks, newspaper articles, education in schools, research on the physical aspects of computer-dependency, design projects and master theses. Most recent is a work on conceptual shortcomings and errors in the study of social media's impact on wellbeing. Specifically, large studies that have concluded that there is no harm have ignored the role of social networks and the "cost of missing out", leading to erroneous estimates of potential harms. See this article for an intro.
Biography: Tobias Dahl is a statistician, entrepreneur and founder of UiO-spin-out Elliptic Labs. He was a Silicon Valley resident from 2011 to 2013, and now splits his time working for SINTEF and UiO. At SINTEF, his main job is to facilitate spin-out companies from SINTEF's own research activities and he has worked on the projects leading to companies like sensiBel, Minuendo, Zivid and Sonair. At UiO, his main role is to foster entrepreneurship and startup culture, and he has hosted lecture series such as "Impact Breakfast" and "XAI - Under The Hood". Tobias is currently working on a pilot project funded by Innovation Norway to get all the Oslo Universities to engage more students to create startups solving real problems.
Cake and coffee/tea is served from 12.00 to 12.15. The talk starts shortly after.