Keynotes

Markus Oermann

Designing Software means Shaping Digital Society
When we design software systems, we are crafting the structure of our digital society. The decisions made in requirements engineering and software design ripple through society, affecting not only how we interact, work, learn, and live but also shaping our worldviews, identities, and notions of normalcy.

Software engineers and designers carry a significant ethical responsibility, making it essential to embed value-driven design practices from the very beginning. This keynote discusses the ethical imperatives in software development, emphasizing the need to balance legal and ethical responsibilities with technical innovation. Through a thoughtful approach, engineers can positively influence our digital world, creating a fairer, more efficient, and innovative society.

Dr. Markus Oermann is a Professor of Digital Ethics and Media Law at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) in Germany. His background includes serving as a policy advisor on social issues and transformation for the Office of the Federal President of Germany, and working as a consultant for the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. His experience also spans roles as a senior researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute.

Dr. Oermann studied law, political science, and philosophy at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, completed his second state examination in law in Hamburg, and earned his doctorate at the University of Hamburg with a focus on the constitutional protection of internet access.

Email: markus.oermann@thws.de