Digitalisation and Work
On behalf of Prof. Elżbieta Opiłowska, and Prof. Adam Mrozowicki, representing the Institute of Sociology at the University of Wrocław we invite you to a lecture by Dr Martin Kuhlmann, a distinguished German sociologist of work and director of the Sociological Research Institute Göttingen (SOFI).
Title: “Digitalisation and Work”
Date: 17 June 2026 from 11:30 to 13:00 as part of the series of Academic Colloquia at the Institute of Sociology
Place: Institute of Sociology, ul. Koszarowa 3, room 203
The event partners are the Wrocław Branch of the Polish Sociological Association, the Sociology Section of the Polish Labour Studies Association, the Wrocław Institute of Culture, and the Polish Sociological Association (PTS).
Abstract:
What digitalisation means for work remains one of the major issues in research on the future of work – recently fuelled by AI technologies. The debate revolves around positive and negative views on current developments. Conceptually, it oscillates between technological determinism and design optimism. The talk/presentation will summarise ten years of comparative case study research across different sectors – industrial and service, private and public – focusing on Industry 4.0 and digitalisation. Particular attention will be paid to the possibilities and necessities of designing digitalised work and the role of various stakeholders in shaping the future of work.
Speaker profile:
Dr Martin Kuhlmann is a leading German sociologist of work and director of the Sociological Research Institute Göttingen (SOFI) at Georg-August University in Göttingen, one of Europe’s foremost centres for research into changes in the world of work, the organisation of production, industrial relations, social cohesion, migration and digitalisation processes. Dr Kuhlmann’s research focuses on analysing changes in the world of work in the context of digitalisation and economic transformation, labour policy in enterprises, workers’ health, industrial relations, and qualitative research methods in sociology. In his research projects, he also examines the role of workers and social partners in shaping the processes of digital transformation and the circular economy. Dr Kuhlmann is the author and co-author of numerous academic publications, including monographs and articles in leading journals in the fields of sociology of work and industrial studies. In his research, he combines in-depth empirical analyses with theoretical reflection on the future of work, democracy in the workplace, and the role of trade unions and social dialogue institutions. He currently leads four research projects, including: Future Lab Society and Work: Shaping Digital Working Environments; Shaping a People-Centred Circular Economy (KREIS); Company health policy for pandemic management – prospects for cooperation between company and external actors. Thanks to his many years of research experience, collaboration with social partners and significant publication record, Dr Martin Kuhlmann is one of Europe’s leading researchers on changes in work and economic organisations.
