Humanities, Social Sciences and AI - Transversal Theme: a Lego Serious Play workshop

13 June 2025, 12.15 to 17.00

You are warmly invited to the first Connections event of the ‘Humanities, Social Sciences and AI’ Transversal Theme: a workshop using our deep disciplinary expertise combined with interdisciplinary play (Lego!) to develop fresh perspectives on artificial intelligence. 

We are inviting interested scholars from SHSS, whether or not your research focuses on AI, in the belief that AI is another social, political, economic, legal and historical phenomenon that our disciplines are very well equipped to analyse.  We hope to develop new ways of thinking about AI based on our expertise in new and old theories and concepts, global experiences, and diversity of approaches.

We will use the methodology of Lego Serious Play.  The act of making and discussing as a basis for thinking together – rather than discussion on its own – can introduce different imaginative ideas and can facilitate a more egalitarian conversation.  In the spirit of creativity and fun that accompanies Lego building and that we hope will accompany collaborations on this transversal theme, the afternoon will be capped with an ice cream sundae bar.

We will work first within disciplines, building ideas about what our disciplines bring to our understanding of AI (and what AI means for our disciplines), and then in the productive space across disciplines where new connections can be forged.

Following the workshop, we will put together a pamphlet of provocations from the social sciences and the humanities for AI.  Participants who write a provocation will receive a book voucher from Cambridge University Press and a printed copy of the pamphlet, which will also be published on the SHSS website.

We hope the afternoon together will spark collaborations around new ways of thinking about AI and the significant benefits our disciplines can bring.Please join us in shaping the direction of the Humanities, Social Sciences and AI transversal research theme.

This event is in-person only.

We really hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please be in contact us at HSSResearchFramework@admin.cam.ac.uk.