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SOUNDS
Title: Societal Observatory Using Novel Data Sources (SOUNDS)
General information:
- Homepage
- Start date: July 2025
- Funding: Transformationsprogramm Forschung und Wissenstransfer Saar
Contents: The Societal Observatory Using Novel Data Sources (SOUNDS), based at Saarland University and led by Prof. Ingmar Weber and Prof. Daniela Braun, is a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative designed to harness innovative data sources to systematically study societal transformations. SOUNDS bridges computer science and social sciences to advance research methodologies that leverage unconventional data such as social media analytics, satellite imagery, and web search trends. By combining Saarland University's expertise in informatics with insights from social science research, SOUNDS aims to become a central hub for innovative, empirical studies addressing contemporary societal challenges. Ultimately, SOUNDS seeks to inform decision-making, foster public engagement, and support democratic resilience, positioning itself as both a research powerhouse and a think-and-do tank dedicated to solving real-world societal issues.
Job advertisement: Student assistant wanted
We are looking for a student/research assistant for the large-scale SOUNDS project!
- The tasks involve supporting project management in various organisational and administrative processes. For example:
- Supporting internal and external communication (e.g. website content, social media).
- Assisting with the creation of texts.
- Proofreading texts and presentations.
- Supporting the preparation, organisation and supervision of events, appointments, meetings and workshops.
- Conducting research.
- Supporting data management and analysis (no prior knowledge required).
Job advertisement: Project manager wanted
As part of the newly established interdisciplinary competence centre SOUNDS (Societal Observatory Using Novel Data Sources) at Saarland University, the following position is advertised with an application deadline of 10 October 2025:
Management of the large-scale SOUNDS project
In addition, further complementary positions as consultants and in the field of data engineering are planned in the near future, as well as a graduate college and the advertisement of new professorships in the field of computational social sciences.
We would be delighted if you could forward this advertisement to anyone who might be interested.
Saarbrücker Zeitung reports on SOUNDS
Data has long since become the new currency: every day, we hand it over to tech giants such as Amazon, Google, Meta & Co, thereby cementing their market power and influence. Year after year, data trading generates revenues in the trillions. And as if that weren't enough, the hoarded data is used to create highly intimate user profiles, which algorithms then use to provide us with tailor-made advertising and news. The closed loop is complete – in other words, the bubbles in which we live.
A new centre of excellence is now being established at Saarland University, which aims to become Germany's leading point of contact for social science analyses of digital data in the medium term. The project is called "SOUNDS" (Societal Observatory Using Novel Data Sources) and will be funded with 29 million euros over seven years from the state government's transformation fund. It was presented on Friday in the presence of Science Minister Jakob von Weizsäcker (SPD). He sees ‘enormous potential for the economy and the public sector’.
Millions in state funding: analysing society and the economy with new data sources
Satellite images, social media and barcode scanners in shops offer a wealth of data that has so far been little used in the social sciences. New AI-supported methods are helping with the evaluation of this data, but they require a great deal of IT expertise and legal and ethical classification. This interdisciplinary expertise is now to be pooled in a competence centre called "Societal Observatory Using Novel Data Sources (SOUNDS)".
The state government is supporting this with 29 million euros from the Transformation Fund in order to generate not only scientific insights but also concrete economic impetus for the transformation of the Saarland economy.
SR reports on SOUNDS
In its latest report, Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR) covers the SOUNDS project at Saarland University, which is dedicated to evaluating unconventional data such as social media analyses, satellite images and web search trends. SR interviewed political scientist Prof. Dr. Daniela Braun and computer scientist Prof. Dr. Ingmar Weber about the project. By combining the expertise of Saarland University in the field of computer science with findings from social science research, SOUNDS aims to become a central hub for innovative, empirical studies addressing current social challenges. Ultimately, SOUNDS aims to inform decision-making processes, promote public engagement and support democratic resilience, thereby positioning itself both as a research centre and as a think-and-do tank dedicated to solving real social problems.