Are you curious about how artificial intelligence affects our society, or whether social media can be a resource for public services? Do you find it exciting to explore how digitization impacts school, work, and leisure? These are some of the questions for research within the Technology and Society group
at the research institute.

The Research Council of Norway recently announced that Western Norway Research Institute and its partners will receive more than NOK 19 million to conduct research into artificial intelligence, big data, and social media. The project seeks put an end to online hate speech and radicalisation through developing new methods based on big data.

With an international career in research, 16 scientific book titles and a large network stretching across the globe, Rajendra Akerkar is one of Sogndal's academic stars. The Big Data Professor is currently working to recruit young researchers to his field of research, as two positions are open this summer in the field of big data and innovation in regional businesses.

Researchers at Western Norway Research Institute have conducted an evaluation of "Girls and Technology", a programme intended to inspire more girls to choose an education within technology and science. The report was commissioned by The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir).

Identifying and exposing fake news and online hate speech is to be a research topic in a new, international collaboration project within big data. Western Norway Research Institute will be cooperating with colleagues in India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the USA. The top researchers taking part in this project will be sharing knowledge as well as research methods, in addition to including students in their ongoing research.

When something happens, warning the public is a key objective. A new public warning system is due to be tested in a new, large R&D project. The system is developed by an enterprise in the region and aims for national as well as international markets.
– This project ties together the three main areas of research at WNRI, says Anna Maria Urbaniak-Brekke, WNRI's coordinator.