Group picture of UNIVIE-people at the ball for science in Vienna’s townhall. © Markus Korenjak
It’s ball season. The Vienna Ball for Science was a wonderful highligt during the weekend. Thank you again for having me, dear Alumni der Universität Wien – Vereinigung der Absolvent*innen! More pictures are on Linkedin.
When leaving home early on a normal day to go out with Daisy, one can already see some light at around 6.30 am. So, it’s getting better. :-)
Retrospect
Martin Selmayr joins us
Prof. Dr. Martin Selmayr, ambassadorr of the European Commission in Austria, is not only a very well known EU official but also a leading academic and legal scholar.
I was very excited when it became more and more realistic to convince him to spend som emonths with us at the department. And, finally, the news was spread on Wednesday: He is going to be with us as a guest professor for the next six months and I am really very much looking forward to this - as I know how inspiring and intelligent and experienced he is. It’s a marvelous opportunity, both for students and staff, and a great, great honour that he chose us.
There is quite some press coverage of this, including APA, ORF, Der Standard, Die Presse, etc. The Commission’s OTS provides more details, Politico has rumors on the Brussels-part of the story (of which I know nothing about). For me this offered the rare occasion to draft a short press realease on my own, in English and in German.
I was suprised and astonished how ‘political’ this assignment is and I appreciated some very friendly Tweets on the opportunities coming for UNIVIE with this such as from mayor Ludwig
or federal minister Gewessler
Selmayr will teach and do research on the most recent European acts, such as DSA, DMA, DA, DGA and, in particular, AI.
#arsboni
The AI-Act (#AIA) is keeping me busy, also in two very interesting ars boni sessions this week:
Hannah Ruschemeier and Rainer Mühlhoff spoke about the role of ethics in European AI-regulation.
Harald Kittler gave an excellent overview (in English) on the state of play in AI supported medical diagnosis.
Patient Autonomy
Selmayr was one of the keynote speakers of our symposion on patient autonomy. The event was streamed and is available on YouTube.
It was in particular interesting to see Selmayr’s optimism about the realisation of the European Health Data Space Act and to hear about the ministry of health’s digitalisation strategy. It was also the first possibility to meet Vienna’s patient ombudsperson Dr. Georg Jelinek (a former 2nd instance judge).
Media
The laundry and me speaking about AI and copyright made it into an (online)-video of ORF and - with a similar topic - into Salzburger Nachrichten (Paywall).
APA features AI in health extensively including a text based on an interview with me.
Vienna Ball for Science
Saturday was a very nice evening with many researchers, students and friends in Vienna’s townhall.
Markus Korenjak made the pictures, including a very nice one from me.
Prospect
#arsboni
Should - and in how far - AI-skills be part of the medical curriculum? And which guidelines should researchers and students follow? And how are or are not legal ethical standards to be implemented into these guidelines? I will discuss this with Prof. Dr. Georg Dorffner of MedUni Vienna on Thursday, February 6, at 16.00 CET.
Meetings
There will be plenty of informal meetings next week. They will bring new opportunities and cooperations.
And I am preparing a trip to Macau in February.
I am very grateful to the organisors, in particular Iris Eisenberger, for having me there. My topic will be about risk assement in the AI act.
We are having a regular scheduled review in one of our Horizon-Projects this week.
Although I have been doing this for quite some time now, a review still feels very much like an exam. So, please wish us luck.
Daisy
© Felix Forgó
Daisy is solving one of the fundamental philosophical problems of life; she’s making good progress as one can easily see on the picture.
Have a wonderful week!
Kind regards
Nikolaus (Forgó)