PhD Courses in Denmark

Dates and time: 2-4 June 2026 from 9-17

The aim of this course is for PhD students - who are engaged with various aspects of contemporary information or data societies - to explore historical, conceptual, ethical, and cultural aspects of information and data. The course offers a historical approach to the present information society. It addresses different conceptualizations of information (e.g. as intelligence), the ethical implications of the use of data and information in connection to the data-driven economy, and it explores the nature and epistemology of information.
Knowledge about historical, conceptual, ethical, and cultural aspects of information and data.
Competencies to critically evaluate different concepts of information and data.
Competencies to critically reflect on ethical consequences of uses of information and data in the data-driven economy.

Course lecturers: 
Bryce Newell, Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), University of Oregon
Kira Vrist Rønn, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Management, University of Southern Denmark
Thomas Troels Hildebrandt, Professor, Software, Data, People & Society, University of Copenhagen

Course organisers and teachers:
Laura Skouvig, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen
Sille Obelitz Søe, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, University of Copenhagen

Programme:

2 June 2026:

10-12: Welcome; initial poster-workshop: “How do you understand information / data in relation to your project?” (In predefined groups based on abstracts – mingling and getting to know each other).

12-13: Lunch

13-15: Presentations + discussion based on abstracts and workshop.

15-15.30: Coffee

15.30-17: Laura Skouvig, UCPH, KOMM: “Information is a term that does not like history.” Followed by discussion.

3 June 2026:

9-10.30: Kira Vrist Rønn, SDU: TBA. Followed by discussion

10.30-11: Coffee

11-12.30: Bryce Newell, University of Oregon: Regulating Synthetic Targets: Information, Law, and Synthetic Media. Followed by discussion.

12.30-13.30: Lunch

13.30-15: Thomas Hildebrandt, UCPH, DIKU: TBA. Followed by discussion

15-15.15: Coffee

15.15-16: Wrapping up the day. Take-aways for finalizing posters

4 June 2026:

9-10.30: Sille Obelitz Søe, UCPH, KOMM: TBA. Followed by discussion

10.30-11: Coffee

11-12.30: Finalizing poster workshop 2.

12.30-13.30: Lunch

13.30-15.30: Poster presentation and discussion

15.30-16: Wrap up and evaluation.

Preparation: The preparations for the course are twofold: 1) The PhD-students write an abstract of 500 words where they present their own projects and how they see their projects in relation to the course themes and literature. Deadline 15 May 2026 and submitted to phd@hrsc.ku.dk 2) The PhD-students prepare a draft poster by hand. In the poster the PhD-students present how the concepts of information and data inform their projects, which concepts of information and data they use in their projects, and what questions they are interested in exploring and elaborating in the course. The posters are basis for the first workshop of the course and the PhD students are expected to work on their posters and the included problem areas during the course. The posters are work in progress and the PhD students are supposed to bring them physically at the first day.

Language: English

ECTS: 4 ECTS for participation.

Max. numbers of participants: 25

Registration:  Please register via the link in the box no later than 31 March 2026

Further information: For more information about the PhD course, please contact the PhD Administration (phd@hrsc.ku.dk).

Literature (more to come):

Grice, H. P. (1957). Meaning. The Philosophical Review, 66(3), 377-388.

Janich, Peter (2018). What is Information? University of Minnesota Press

Koopman, C. (2019). Information before information theory: The politics of data beyond the perspective of communication. New Media and Society, 1-18.

Hayot, E. Introduction: Information. A Reader. Eds. Hayot, E., Pao, L. and Detwyler, A. Information: A Reader. New York, Columbia University Press.