Each summer school will last ten to twelve days, during which advanced master students, doctoral students, and more senior researchers from multiple academic disciplines are introduced to methods of computational social science (CSS) or Data Science (DS) and conduct a self-designed hands-on data-driven research project. The events are organized as intensive research incubators, inspired by the idea of start-up incubators that accelerate business innovation. Participants shall achieve the following goals:
- They work in teams and build an international and interdisciplinary network.
- They learn to formulate and pursue substantive social science research questions.
- They use computational methods through on-the-spot training and learning by doing,
- They produce a draft manuscript on a team-chosen relevant topic that can be submitted for publication.
Hands-on projects
Participants will form project teams of three members and will be guided by two experienced researchers – one with strong topical expertise and one with methodological solid expertise. The guides serve as senior researchers and as project managers. Besides the methodological and topical contributions by the project leaders, each school features keynotes and some introductory topical and methodological lectures by senior external experts.
What to expect
In the first week, participants will learn about conflict research and computational social science through lectures and workshops to set the stage for all equally. Our keynote speakers will round off the introductory program of the first week. In addition, project work will start in the first week. The second week will be mainly devoted to project work and participants will study their research topic together with their team members in group work. Short feedback rounds will ensure exchange with other participants.
In the evenings and at the weekend, there will be enough time and space for networking and leisure activities.