[Geo4All] Join us for the March 2026 Ethical Data Initiative Townhall

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,

Co-hosted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Exeter (UoE), the Ethical Data Initiative <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/> (EDI)’s core mission is to foster equity and responsibility in data practices. With over 350 affiliates and partners across the globe, the EDI acts as a non-partisan platform working to increase data literacy and promote a more human-centric approach to how data is collected, used and shared. Leveraging stakeholder and community engagement, the EDI aims to increase global visibility of ethical research and data practices.

In support of these goals, on 28th November 2025, the EDI hosted its second multi-stakeholder Town Hall. EDI partners, affiliates, and data ethics experts from its global community gathered online to showcase existing partnerships, spotlight the latest research, and develop new collaborations to address critical issues in data ethics, governance, and equity facing researchers and human societies today.

Keynote contributions included
 
Hilary Hanahoe, Secretary General, Research Data Alliance (RDA)
Rodrigo Costas Comesana, Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University
Arnaud Ceol, Italian Research Centre on High-Performance Computing, Big Data, and Quantum Computing (Fondazione ICSC)
Kelly Cobey, Co-Chair, Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
 
The final session of the Town Hall turned the spotlight on groundbreaking new research. Dr Silvia Milano, EDI Head of Research at the Technical University of Munich and based in the Chair of Philosophy and History of Science and Technology, is leading research on Recommender Systems for Social Good (RS4Good), outlining the complex issues and research questions that are at the heart of the project and demonstrating the urgency to answer them.

More details at 

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/2025/12/16/recommender-systems-for-social-good-moving-beyond-accuracy/

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/2025/12/18/edi-celebrates-strengthening-partnerships-innovative-education-and-exciting-new-research-in-2025/

The Town Hall inspired diverse and thought-provoking input from participants. If you want to join the conversation, you can join the EDI Affiliate Network <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/join-community/>, or register your participation at the next EDI Town Hall <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/2025/12/18/join-us-for-the-march-2026-ethical-data-initiative-townhall/> to be held in Munich on Thursday, 12th March 2026. This will be an in-person event providing an open and inclusive forum for sharing information, debate and community building.

The event and workshop will bring together EDI Affiliates, selected experts and key stakeholders to discuss the future of data ethics and ethical research, while collaboratively shaping plans for our activities and community. The programme will include updates on ongoing EDI activities in education, policy, research and engagement, as well as insights from leading data practitioners, global institutions, and policy networks. We warmly invite EDI Affiliates, partners, and members of the wider community—including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers—to join us for a day of collaboration, insight, and strategic planning.

Details at https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/2025/12/18/join-us-for-the-march-2026-ethical-data-initiative-townhall/

If you are not yet an EDI Affiliate but would like to become more involved in our working groups and community activities, we invite you to register as an EDI Affiliate here <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/join-community/>.

We look forward to welcoming you on 12 March 2026 as we continue our mission to foster a transparent, responsible, and human-centric approach to data.

Best wishes

Suchith

Professor Suchith Anand
Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate
https://spspa.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?username=sa1131
https://ethicaldatainitiative.org <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/>


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