Developing Explanations Together

Algorithmic approaches such as machine learning are becoming increasingly complex. This growing opacity makes it difficult to understand and accept the decisions proposed by artificial intelligence (AI). In the Collaborative Research Center/Transregio 318 “Constructing Explainability,” researchers are developing ways to actively involve users in the explanation process, thereby enabling co-constructive explanations. Since 2021, the interdisciplinary research team has been investigating the principles, mechanisms, and social practices of explanation and how these can be taken into account in the design of AI systems. The aim of the project is to provide users with relevant information in such a way that they can make informed decisions and participate actively and critically in a digital society.

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News

The year 2025 was marked by significant developments for TRR 318: new research findings, the third TRR conference, and a variety of formats for exchange with the public. In addition, the second funding phase was approved, starting in 2026. Here is a brief review of the year 2025.

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In the eighth and final episode of the TRR podcast, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Britta Wrede talks with Prof. Dr. Friederike Kern and Prof. Dr. Benjamin Paaßen about the role of context in explainable AI and how AI systems can be designed to be more context-sensitive.

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The CCWS at Löschzug Elsen.

How can different social groups be involved in discussions about artificial intelligence technologies? “First of all, by learning to talk about it and ask questions,” says Dr. Nils Klowait from the Ö project of TRR 318. The Co-Construction Workshops (CCWS) are one platform for this. They were developed in the first funding phase (2021-2025) of TRR 318 and tested with a variety of groups.

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This is a portrait foto of Prof. Dr. Elena Esposito.
Photo: Michael Adamski

December 8 is Education Day in Germany, an annual day of action that promotes equal educational opportunities. In this context, the question arises as to how modern technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), can facilitate access to education and knowledge. TRR 318 spoke with Professor Elena Esposito, a sociology professor at Bielefeld University, about this topic.

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Projects

Projects

The areas of research included in TRR 318 are divided into three categories. These three areas in turn are subdivided into interdisciplinary subprojects. Project INF provides an overarching research structure; Project Ö facilitates public relations and outreach; Project Z addresses administrative, organizational, and financial matters; and the RTG Project provides a framework for educating doctoral and post-doctoral researchers.

Alle Projekte

Area A - Explaining

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Area B - Social practice

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Area C - Representing and computing explanations

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Intersecting projects

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Pub­lic­a­tions

All TRR 318 publications at a glance: specialist articles, conference papers, and conference abstracts.

Mem­bers

The co-construction of explanations is investigated by a total of 22 project leaders with about 40 research assistants from computer science, economics, linguistics, media science, philosophy, psychology and sociology at the Bielefeld and Paderborn universities.

Re­search Train­ing Group

Net­work­ing op­por­tun­it­ies

The Integrated Research Training Group structures the further education of PhD students and postdocs. We warmly invite external PhD students to express their interest in a visiting fellowship in our Collaborative Research Center!

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AI For­um

In­sights in­to the world of ar­ti­fi­cial in­tel­li­gence

The website offers a collection of information from research, contextualizes current trends, and provides the opportunity to pose questions to the researchers in TRR 318.

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Media

News­let­ter

Subscribe to our Newsletter to keep updated about research and recent events of TRR 318.

Man­age­ment Team

Katharina Rohlfing

Speaker - Project Leader A01, A05, Z

Office: TP6.2.304
Phone: +49 5251 60-5717
E-mail: katharina.rohlfing@uni-paderborn.de
Web: Homepage

Philipp Cimiano

Deputy Speaker - Project Leader B01, C05, INF

Phone: +49 521 106-12249
E-mail: cimiano@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de

Suzana Alpsancar

Member - Project Leader B06

Office: N2.304
Phone: +49 5251 60-2432
E-mail: suzana.alpsancar@uni-paderborn.de
E-mail: lehrealp@mail.uni-paderborn.de
Web: Homepage

Stefan Kopp

Member - Project Leader A01, C05

Phone: +49 521 106-12144
E-mail: skopp@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de

Kirsten Thommes

Member - Project Leader A03, C02

Office: Q3.301
Phone: +49 5251 60-2080
E-mail: kirsten.thommes@uni-paderborn.de
Web: Homepage

Henning Wachsmuth

Member - Project Leader C04, INF

Phone: +49 511 762 12377
E-mail: h.wachsmuth@ai.uni-hannover.de

Britta Wrede

Member - Project Leader A03, A05, Ö

Phone: +49 521 106-67885
E-mail: bwrede@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de

Josephine Beryl Fisher

Member - Doctoral Researcher A01

Office: ZM2.B.02.26
E-mail: josephine.beryl.fisher@uni-paderborn.de
Web: Homepage

Ronja Hannebohm

Manager - Employee Z - Research Management

Office: ZM2.B.02.01
Phone: +49 5251 60-4493
E-mail: ronja.hannebohm@uni-paderborn.de
E-mail: management@trr318.uni-paderborn.de
Web: Homepage