Research on data activism
Digital data increasingly plays a central role in contemporary politics and public life, so knowing how to work with data is more vital now than ever. Consequently, data literacy, i.e., the ability to read, understand, create and communicate data in context, is becoming an essential skill in today's world.
Data has become a powerful tool for, e.g., marketing, protecting national security or monitoring the citizens. However, big data corporations and intelligence agencies are not the only ones acting on datafication. Non-governmental organizations, hackers, and activists provide countless different ways of using data, such as drawing attention to political causes and fostering social change.
Dr. Kuba Piwowar, sociologist from SWPS University's Institute of Humanities, is conducting a research project, "From Data Literacy to Data Activism," funded by Humanity in Action. The project aims to deepen knowledge of existing data activism projects in Poland and worldwide and shed light on new trends in data activism. In addition, it will include a workshop on data literacy for people who do not consider themselves data literate or would like to engage in data activism but do not know where to start.
As Dr. Piwowar explains, it is time to break the stereotypes of data analysis as a complicated, out-of-reach, unpleasant, or simply unnecessary activity. And best way to do so is by exploring possible data applications in our own backyard.
From convincing local authorities to install a traffic light where accidents frequently occur to influencing policy change at the national level — data activism projects prove that developing analytical skills makes perfect sense. And this is especially true when we acquire and use data together with other people.
Dr. Kuba Piwowar
Project Leader
Read more about the project
About Humanity in Action
Founded in 1997, Humanity in Action is a transatlantic non-profit organization that supports democracy, pluralism, and human rights through educational programs for college students, recent graduates, and emerging leaders.
At first, the organization focused on the 1943 flight and rescue of the Jews in Denmark during the Holocaust. However, over the years, its scope has expanded to include the legacies of American slavery and the Jim Crow era; colonialism and migration; peacebuilding and transitional justice in the Balkans; transitions from authoritarian to democratic forms of government in post-communist societies to other human rights challenges in Europe and the United States.
Humanity in Action now includes branches in the United States, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Poland.
About the Researcher
Kuba Piwowar
Ph.D. / Assistant Professor
Is a sociologist and cultural researcher. He specializes in market research and socio-cultural aspects of technology and new media. He is also interested in big data and ethics in data analysis. Additionally, since 2008, he has been employed by Google as an analyst and currently, as a digital transformation advisor working with key business partners.