FIZ goes Amsterdam: ISE participates in Semantics 2024

This topic was dealt with particularly intensively in a fishbowl discussion, in which experts from science and industry exchanged their views on the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence and semantic technologies. In addition to this central debate, the varied conference program offered numerous other highlights. For example, the topics of knowledge graphs, machine learning and large language models were explored in depth in various workshops and presentations. 

Of course, our FIZ colleagues from the Information Server Engineering (ISE) research unit significantly contributed to these sessions and discussions. Dr. Genet Asefa Gesese, for example, presented a joint paper on the NFDI4DataScience Ontology (NFDI4DSO). In his presentation “The Landscape of Ontologies”, Ebrahim Norouzi presented a paper on the use of ontologies in materials science and engineering, which analyzed over 70 ontologies in the relevant disciplines and proposed guidelines for their use. An important organizational role was also played by a representative of FIZ Karlsruhe: Dr. Shufan Jiang, also from the ISE research unit, was responsible as Proceedings Co-Chair for the publication of all conference contributions and thus ensured the scientific documentation of this trend-setting event.

Last but not least: our ISE colleagues were co-organizers of the “SeMatS 2024: International Workshop on Semantic Materials Science. Harnessing the Power of Semantic Web Technologies in Materials Science”, which focused on implementing the use of semantic web technologies in materials science and highlighting the associated benefits and challenges. Many thanks for these valuable contributions!

Inspiring keynotes and personal exchange

Another highlight of the conference were the keynotes given by experts of semantic technologies such as Alon Halevy (Google Cloud) and Ian Horrocks (University of Oxford). For the FIZ-ISE team, participation in SEMANTiCS 2024 was not only professionally enriching, but also an opportunity for valuable personal exchange. Prof. Harald Sack, who heads the research group, particularly emphasizes the positive feedback on the team's OpenHPI courses on knowledge graphs and semantic web technologies: “So many visitors to Semantics 2024 came to us to tell us how important and helpful these courses are for them and that they were sometimes the starting point for their careers in science or business.”

We think you can hardly wish for any better feedback. SEMANTiCS 2024 not only offered a platform for innovation and debate, but also the opportunity to network and promote knowledge exchange within the community. We at FIZ Karlsruhe are already looking forward to the next edition of the conference - perhaps even in Karlsruhe?