معرفی
Elena Esposito is a Full Professor at the Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Bologna, and at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Bielefeld. She holds the scientific-disciplinary sector GSPS-06/A (Sociology of cultural and communicative processes). Her work bridges systems theory, digital communication, and algorithmic futures, with a focus on artificial intelligence, prediction mechanisms, and media sociology. She has received prestigious fellowships from institutions like the ERC, Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin, and Columbia University.
- PhD in Sociology (1990, University of Bielefeld)
- Habilitation (2001, University of Bielefeld)
- National Scientific Qualification (2013, Italy)
- Degree in Philosophy (1987, University of Bologna, summa cum laude)
- Degree in Sociology (1983, University of Bologna, summa cum laude)
Esposito's research spans algorithmic prediction, artificial communication, digital media, and systems theory. Her work examines how algorithms shape social intelligence in insurance, medicine, and policing, the paradoxes of contingency in financial markets, and the societal implications of virtuality. She connects Niklas Luhmann's theoretical frameworks to contemporary issues like AI ethics and pandemic-era social systems.
Her recent publications emphasize AI's role in constructing unpredictable futures, the social management of algorithmic opacity, and the transformation of risk perception in digital societies. She has authored 13 books and over 100 peer-reviewed articles, exploring topics from media memory to financial forecasting.
- ERC Advanced Grant (2018): €2.08M for algorithmic prediction studies
- Volkswagen Foundation Grant (€1.5M) for U3B project
- Leverhulme Trust funding for international network on value performances
Esposito serves on editorial and advisory boards for journals like Sociologica and organizations including the Weizenbaum Institute. She directs the FAIR project on AI implications and co-leads initiatives like DEMOPE (Democracy under Pressure) and CRC 1567 on Virtual Worlds.
