What will our future life look like and what are the challenges it holds? A programme packed with exciting topics expects you at our first Day of Interdisciplinary Research (INDI) on 18 June. The Faculty of Law has invited scholars from all disciplines to present their insights and views on three central aspects: artificial intelligence and autonomous driving - climate change - digitalisation and cybersecurity. Click here for more information on INDI 2021 and join us for a trip to tomorrow’s world.

The development of self-driving cars is advancing at an ever faster pace. But, can our law keep up with this speed and is it prepared for vehicles that navigate autonomously through crowded streets and take their own decisions? Let’s suppose an accident is caused while the car is on autopilot. Does our law have the answer who is to be held liable for the damage? What if hackers enter the artificial intelligence (AI) system in the car and make it accelerate when approaching red traffic lights instead of stop – do we have the legal measures necessary to ensure these cybersecurity risks are mitigated? Find out more at INDI’s AI and Autonomous Driving presentations.

Landslides, floodings, droughts – private individuals are suffering losses caused by events triggered through climate change. Would tort law offer a way to hold big carbon emitters responsible for these losses? A causal link between emissions and specific damage seems to be hard to establish. However, latest modelling techniques and science have made tremendous advances that would allow linking emissions from specific polluters to particular harms. A fascinating approach or a step too far? Find out more at INDI’s Climate Change presentations.

It sounds quite handy what the future holds: robots in our homes give us a hand with the household, are used as resilient care assistants or even cheer us up when we are down. Like a “family member” the robot, i.e. the artificial intelligence in it, learns a lot about us and the ones staying with us. Would you be aware that the AI could thereby be able to create a profile with the most sensitive data: physical and mental states, relationships, sexual orientations, etc. What threats does this pose to our private lives and what are the legal issues raised? Find out more at INDI’s Digitalisation and Cybersecurity presentations.

On 18 June, INDI gives you the unique opportunity to get ready for tomorrow and learn more about these amazing topics of future life and legal issues we might not have been thinking about. Registration is open: click here. 

We look forward to meeting you @ INDI 2021!