Who is behind the DIZH Public Data Lab?
The DIZH Public Data Lab (PDL) is an initiative of four partners: the Cantonal Statistical Office of Zurich, Opendata.ch, the University of Zurich (UZH) and the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). The Public Data Lab is a project funded by the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH) from 2025-2029.
Why is there a need for the DIZH Public Data Lab?
Changes in society, the economy and the environment pose major challenges for the Canton of Zurich. According to its constitutional duty, the Canton has to maintain living standards and ensure sustainable ecological, economic and social development. Developing strategies to deal with these societal challenges requires decision makers to use evidence in formulating responses and monitoring effectiveness of policy interventions. However, the existing data and foundations do not cover all change processes. In addition, new challenges can be better identified through a mix of different types of data, including qualitative data.
This is where the DIZH Public Data Lab (PDL) comes into play: it collects and uses data to understand what drives, suppresses and influences social, economic and ecological processes, but also what reactions these processes provoke. However, data alone is not enough. Data must be interpreted and combined to form indicators. Indicators allow overall assessments of wellbeing, which in the end lead to knowledge and potentially action.
Through art and design, the PDL creates social awareness of the complexity of indicators and the social, political and ethical contexts behind them. In public formats such as exhibitions and dialogue-based interventions in social spaces, the significance of indicators and their underlying data (processes) are explored, critically and playfully (re)negotiated.
What is the DIZH Public Data Lab's innovation?
The DIZH Public Data Lab (PDL) brings together researchers with methodological expertise in geographical information science (GIS), qualitative methods, machine learning, art and design. Thematically, the PDL combines expertise in urban research, labour geography and environmental change. At the centre of the PDL is the development of indicators to summarise, simplify and communicate complex data. Thanks to transdisciplinary digital and artistic innovation, the PDL strengthens public trust and provides decision-makers with an evidence-based foundation.
How is the DIZH Public Data Lab organised?
The DIZH Public Data Lab (PDL) consists of representatives of the four institutions:
Cantonal Statistical Office of Zurich
- Andrea Schnell, Co-Head of the Cantonal Statistical Office of Zurich
- Matthias Mazenauer, Co-Head of the Cantonal Statistical Office of Zurich
Opendata.ch
Florin Hasler, Director of Opendata.ch
- Ross Purves, Professor for Geocomputation at the Department of Geography
- Karin Schwiter, Professor for Labour Geography at the Department of Geography
- Jan Dirk Wegner, Associate Professor for Data Science for Sciences at the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Machine Learning
- Hanna Hilbrandt, Associate Professor for Social Geography and Urban Studies at the Department of Geography
- Katia Soland, Launch Coordinator of the Public Data Lab
- Marcel Bleuler, Director of the Institute for Contemporary Art Research
- Sara Owens, Professor for Visual Communication
- Sophia Prinz, Professor for Design Theory and History
- Felix Stalder, Professor for Digital Culture
- Julia Weber, Research Associate at the Institute for Comtemporary Art Research
An Advisory Board supports the PDL. It brings external feedback to the PDL, advises the PDL on its activities and helps the PDL to promote its activities.
What is the meaning of the "Public Data Lab"?
On the one hand, 'public data' refers to data that concerns the public, society. On the other hand, the indicators that the PDL collects are published as open data.
The ‘lab’ stands for laboratory and emphasises the scientific and experimental approach.
Where is the DIZH Public Data Lab located?
The DIZH Public Data Lab (PDL) is physically hosted at the Cantonal Statistical Office of Zurich.
How can I keep up to date with the DIZH Public Data Lab?
Visit this website or follow us on LinkedIn, where we regularly write about activities and events.