The Berlin Model: Education for Post-Professional Activities (BANA) is an innovative continuing education program for individuals aged 45 and over, providing access to current scientific knowledge. The BANA lecture series at the Technische Universität Berlin is open to the public and addresses contemporary and socially relevant issues. The format encourages dialogue with civil society and allows participants to engage with the lecturers after each talk – through questions, suggestions, or comments. This semester’s lecture series is being organized and conducted in cooperation with researchers from the ECDF.
1. Lecture:
Can AI Achieve Sustainability?!
Teaser
The rapid development of AI-based systems is driving new methods for climate protection and adaptation. At the same time, AI systems are currently very energy- and resource-intensive. Without a shift in direction, the world would face a shortage of computing capacity and an exponentially growing carbon footprint. In addition to developments aimed at resource optimization, there are already analyses today that predict an overall positive impact of AI on sustainability efforts. This talk will cover current AI developments and provide recommendations for how to responsibly engage with AI.
Ina Schieferdecker is an independent researcher and honorary professor for “Software-Based Innovations” at the Technische Universität Berlin. She is also an associate researcher at the ECDF. She studied Mathematical Computer Science at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and earned her doctorate at the Technische Universität Berlin. In addition to serving on advisory boards for the Institute for Organizational Communication (ifok) and the Barkhausen Institute, she is a member of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech), a board member of the German Informatics Society, and an honorary member of the German Testing Board.
2. Lecture:
Interacting with AI is a skill that must be learned
Teaser
AI has long become part of everyday life – especially through multifunctional language models like ChatGPT. As impressive as the results may seem, errors are ever-present. The interesting question is: When and how do we recognize these errors – and when do we blindly trust an AI tool? Too much skepticism can prevent us from harnessing the technology’s potential, while uncritical trust obviously comes with significant risks. Successful use of AI therefore requires a delicate balance between critical sensitivity and open-mindedness. This is exactly where research comes in, asking: How can we make humans and machines work together as a functioning team? The talk offers insights into current findings, challenges, and open questions – and invites the audience to engage with AI from a fresh perspective.
Timm Teubner has been a member of the Board of Directors at the ECDF since 2023. Since 2018, he is ECDF Professor for "Trust in Digital Services" at Technische Universität Berlin. He studied industrial engineering at the University of Karlsruhe (now Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT), graduating with a diploma in 2010. In 2013, he earned his doctorate in microeconomics at KIT, with a dissertation on “Social Preferences under Risk”. Following this, his research focus shifted to information systems, particularly with an emphasis on online platforms, trust in digital services, and human-computer interaction.
Venue:
Online Lecture Series – You can access the digital lecture hall here: tu-berlin.zoom.us/j/61413980952
Meeting-ID: 614 1398 0952
Password: 012309
The lectures will take place on November 4, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Participation is free of charge and no registration is required.