The conference, which was well-attended, also attracted researchers from as far afield as Australia. This year's theme, "Sociology in a Digital World," focused on how the digital revolution has reshaped our ways of perceiving, communicating, and constructing our social realities.
Carl Nordlund, Associate Professor at the Institute for Analytical Sociology at Linköping University, thinks that the conference exceeded expectations and run without major issues. He was especially happy with the volunteers in yellow shirts, who managed their tasks excellently, solved problems independently, and greatly contributed to the smooth running of the event.
"It has been a great pleasure to organise the conference and to see how well we worked together to accomplish the task," said Carl Nordlund.
Viktor Görefält, a student in the Master's program in Computational Social Science, attended the conference to gain inspiration and explore future career opportunities. He was enthusiastic about seeing how his education could develop and lead him forward. Viktor, who is starting his second year in the program, viewed the event as a chance to be surrounded by knowledgeable people and to use the tools he has acquired to analyse interesting areas in more depth.
In addition to participating in the conference, Viktor also worked as a volunteer, helping with practical tasks such as ensuring that all participants had access to necessary materials, setting up food and coffee, and solving any problems that arose.
"I am here because I want to be inspired. I want to see where my education can lead me in the future," said Viktor Görefält.
Among the participants was David Bazan, a PhD student at Lund University, who attended because the theme aligned well with his research on TikTok and algorithms. His strategy was to attend sessions that seemed relevant and challenging, including those on emotions, which relate to his own research interests.
"I attended and listened to all the talks that seemed interesting, relatable, or challenging," said David Bazan.
The conference addressed a range of issues, such as the emergence of new forms of inequality in the digital age, the impact of online communities on social cohesion, the implications of artificial intelligence on labor markets, and the role of social media in identity formation and social movements. Researchers also discussed ethical challenges related to data collection and privacy.
Heta Tarkkala, a researcher at the University of Helsinki, participated in the conference due to its relevance to her research interests. She organised the session "Behind the Scenes of Digital Public Services" and was pleased with the practical aspects of the event, such as scheduling and refreshments.
"The practical arrangements for the conference have been really good — schedules and coffee have been well-managed," said Heta Tarkkala.
The conference provided a platform for fruitful discussions and the exchange of ideas, where traditional sociological theories met contemporary digital phenomena. Participants aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of how society evolves in the digital age and reaffirmed the important role of sociology in interpreting and navigating this complex, connected world.
