*** apologies for cross-posting *** The 12th International Conference on Communities & Technologies (C&T 2025), to be held at the University of Siegen, Germany from July 26-30, 2025, cordially invites you to submit research papers, case studies, workshop proposals, posters, demos, panels/symposia, community events and doctoral research plans for potential presentation or facilitation at the conference! The biennial International Conference on Communities & Technologies (C&T) is the premier international forum for stimulating debate and disseminating research on the complex connections between communities – in their multiple forms – and information and communication technologies. C&T is brought to you by EUSSET, the European Society for Socially Embedded Systems, who also brings you ECSCW. We welcome researchers, designers, educators, industry, practitioners, and students from the many disciplines and perspectives bearing on the interaction between community and technology. The theme of C&T 2025 is “Approaching the Future, Embracing the Past” Papers and proposals are accepted from a variety of relevant perspectives including technology, philosophy, social sciences, policy, design, business, activism, health-care, industry, art, the humanities, and so on. Examples of relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following: * Diverse communities and their relationships to technology; urban and rural, migrants, refugees, indigenous peoples, LGBTQ, activists and social movements, low-income communities, alt-right and hate groups; the developing world and non-Western societies; professional communities, communities of practice, research communities; * Bottom-up movements, grassroots developments, civic activism, community engagement, participatory publics, communities and innovation; ethics, power and social justice issues; perspectives on the spread of technology and its impact on different societies; Learning from historical grassroots movements to democratize access to technology and knowledge. * Classical Design Principles in Modern Technology: Applying traditional design methodologies to enhance user experience and accessibility in digital products. Resilient Systems and Adaptive Strategies: Learning from historical technological failures to build resilient and adaptable future systems. * Crowdfunding, collective and civic intelligence, community learning, early warning systems, collective awareness, collaborative awareness platforms; social cognition; community emotion; happiness; historical memory; * Community owned and operated technology, peer production and the commons, DIY and maker communities (makerspaces, fablabs, crafters); community agriculture; How indigenous and local knowledge can contribute to contemporary technological innovations. * Civic problem-solving, communities in relation to urgent and complex challenges to the health of the planet and the people that inhabit it; collaborative systems; partnering with education; government, civil society, and movements; resilience and rebuilding in the face of technological or societal disruption; * Support of community processes: sensemaking, online deliberation; issue, argumentation and discussion mapping; community ideation and idea management systems; collective decision-making; group memory; participatory sensory networks; * The future of communities and technology; simulations, utopian or dystopian design; durable relationships and long-range goals; and * Development and support of the Communities & Technologies community; social and technological critique; effectiveness and other measures. * Exploring the role of augmented, virtual, and mixed reality in enhancing learning, collaboration, and community experiences across various domains. * Investigating how technology supports healthcare accessibility, rehabilitation, and improved quality of life for individuals with diverse needs. * Examining the impact of robotics in society, from automation and smart systems to ethical considerations and human-centered applications. * Understanding how humans and robots collaborate, communicate, and coexist in workplaces, homes, and public spaces. * Analyzing how collaborative technologies and learning frameworks drive innovation, skill development, and knowledge-sharing in industrial settings. Deadlines * Papers (full and short) * March 14, 2025 (23:59 AoE), paper submissions due * Workshops * May 09, 2025 (23:59 AoE), workshop proposals due * Case studies * May 09, 2025 (23:59 AoE), case studies due * Doctoral colloquium * April 25, 2025 (23:59 AoE), Doctoral Colloquium applications due * Posters/demos * May 09, 2025 (23:59 AoE), posters/demos due * Community Events * May 09, 2025 (23:59 AoE), posters/demos due * EUSSET Grant for student and community organizations to attend C&T 2025 * May 30, 2025 (23:59 AoE), applications due * Student Volunteers * April 25, 2025, applications due * Early-Bird Registration * June 15, 2025, early-bird registration ends For further details, see https://comtech.community/ General Chairs Konstantin Aal, University of Siegen David Unbehaun, Clausthal University of Technology -- Dr. Konstantin Aal PostDoc and Team Leader “Community and Activism” pronouns: he/him/his I support flexible work arrangements and do not expect you to reply outside your agreed working hours. Information Systems and New Media SFB 1187 "Medien der Kooperation" University of Siegen Kohlbettstr. 15, 57072 Siegen Raum. US-E-102 Tel. +49 (0)271 / 740 3383 Mob. +49 (0)176 / 30 780 007 http://www.uni-siegen.de/fb5/wirtschaftsinformatik/index.html.en?lang=en https://scholar.kosta.phd