18-22 AUGUST

Aarhus

2025

CONFERENCE

Conference Goals

The sixth decennial Aarhus conference aims to continue to set new agendas for critical action, theory, and practice in computing. With the title, Computing (X) Crisis, we invite contributions that present and discuss the different roles of computing in shaping, understanding, improving, causing and acting on the human condition in a world subsumed by multiple crises.

The 1975, 1985 and 1995 Aarhus conferences focussed on computing in working life in the context of democracy. While both the 2005 and 2015 conferences acknowledged that computing influences most parts of human life (civic life, the welfare state, health, learning, leisure, culture, intimacy, …), the 2015 conference explicitly called for critical perspectives and alternatives in alignment with utopian principles—that is, the hope that things might not only be different but also radically better.

Today, ‘crisis’ characterises seemingly perilous moments linked to the climate, economic and social inequality, democracy, relations among societies and, more broadly, a flourishing life for all critters, human and otherwise. And at the same time computing seems omnipresent, providing glimmers of hope but at the same time acting as a source of the troubles.  

We call for contributions offering new agendas and perspectives for influencing and responding to ‘Computing (X) Crisis.’ These might centre on alternatives to current directions in computing, offer methodological or theoretical developments, or present new forms of critical or societal engagements and action. With the (X) we invite authors to speculate on potential replacements of the universal X – with, after, in, etc – and on what it means to combine the two words. Current trends in critical research on computing point to areas such as political activism, civic engagement, aesthetics and artistic practices as areas that could fruitfully inform a critical discourse in computing.

1975
Arbejdsformer i systemudvikling
The, primarily Nordic, conference in 1975 was a milestone in defining the development of computer-based, socio-technical systems as an area where the end-users should have a major say.
1985
Computers and Democracy
Focus on practical collaboration with workers and theoretical contributions on topics like object orientation and software as a process. This conference was truly international, and resulted in the 1987 collection "Computers and Democracy" from selected papers.
1995
Computers in Context
joining forces in design
Focusing on the variety of disciplines involved with the design of computer artifacts as critical action. Over the years the involvement of end-users has become standard procedure in many organizations, today end-user involvement is not always critical action per se..
2005
Critical Computing – between
sense and sensibility
Focus on revitalize the idea of IT-research as critical action, not only as workplace actionism, but also by integrating a broader scope of critical analysis and critical practice.
2015
Critical Alternatives
Focus on critical alternatives in alignment with utopian principles—that is, the hope that things might not only be different but also radically better. Critical alternatives matter and make people reflect.
2025
Computing [X] Crisis
Focus on that today, ‘crisis’ characterize developments in climate, economic inequality, democracy, relations among societies and, more broadly, quality of life. And at the same, time computing seems almost omnipresence. For good and for bad.
1975
Arbejdsformer i
systemudvikling
The, primarily Nordic, conference in 1975 was a milestone in defining the development of computer-based, socio-technical systems as an area where the end-users should have a major say.
1975
Arbejdsformer i systemudvikling
1985
Computers and Democracy
1985
Computers and Democracy
Focus on practical collaboration with workers and theoretical contributions on topics like object orientation and software as a process. This conference was truly international, and resulted in the 1987 collection "Computers and Democracy" from selected papers.
1995
Computers in Context
joining forces in design
1995
Computers in Context
Focusing on the variety of disciplines involved with the design of computer artifacts as critical action. Over the years the involvement of end-users has become standard procedure in many organizations, today end-user involvement is not always critical action per se..
2005
Critical Computing – between
sense and sensibility
2005
Critical Computing – between sense and sensibility
Focus on revitalize the idea of IT-research as critical action, not only as workplace actionism, but also by integrating a broader scope of critical analysis and critical practice.
2015
Critical Alternatives
2015
Critical Alternatives
Focus on critical alternatives in alignment with utopian principles—that is, the hope that things might not only be different but also radically better. Critical alternatives matter and make people reflect.
2025
Computing [X] Crisis
2025
Computing [X] Crisis
Focus on that today, ‘crisis’ characterize developments in climate, economic inequality, democracy, relations among societies and, more broadly, quality of life. And at the same, time computing seems almost omnipresence. For good and for bad

Call for Contributions

We invite submissions from authors who understand themselves in line with the previous Aarhus Conferences, as well as authors from other fields   who wish to contribute to the discourse on improving computing for the human condition in a world of multiple crises. At the conference we will hear from various knowledge areas such as social science, humanities, engineering, computing, design, and interdisciplinary combinations hereof.  

In particular, we invite agenda setting papers, but other types of papers that report on ‘computing and how to improve’ are also of interest.

Computing (X) Crisis calls for Papers, Critiques, Workshops, and Work-in-Progress.

Important Dates

20th February 2025
Deadline Papers, Critiques
6th March 2025
Deadline, Workshops
3rd April 2025
Notification of acceptance, Workshops
29th April 2025
Notification of acceptance, Papers and Critiques
6th May 2025
Deadline, Work in Progress
12th June 2025
Notification of acceptance: Work in Progress
TBA
Camera-ready deadlines will follow
18th - 22nd August 2025
Workshops and Conference
WHAT
DOES
YOUR
X
STAND
FOR?

Papers

Papers are expected to be influential throughout the next decennium by addressing fundamental issues and proposing new agendas or in other ways offering research contributions with the potential for long-lasting impact. Papers should make a lasting and significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of improving computing for the human condition in a world of multiple crises.  

In summary, submitted papers will be evaluated based on the extent the submission:

  • offers a strong contribution to theory and practice as regards Computing (X) Crisis
  • has potential for long-lasting impact
  • provides new perspectives

We accept short and long papers. Submissions below 5,000 words are considered short and is allowed and encouraged for to-the-point arguments. Submissions between 5,000 and 12,000 words are considered standard long papers, while submissions exceeding 12,000 words should only be made with very good reasons.

  • Please ensure that you use the correct template, the ACM Conference Proceedings Primary Article; a single-column format must be used for the reviewing phase.
  • Your submission must be anonymized.

The Aarhus2025 conference follows a double-blind review process (performed by invited reviewers from the program committee) that is complemented by a meta-review (done by a primary reviewer/PC member).

Critiques

The Critique submission category will establish a forum for critical and insightful perspectives that challenge the status quo of computing. Submissions must address the conference theme and will be assessed based on their ability to critically dissect, provoke or inspire.

The Critiques track will spark thought-provoking discussions across subject areas, research traditions and generations. Critiques submission formats include but are not limited to: Essay, creative writing e.g manifestos, stories, fictions, pictorial, artwork e.g software, video games, audio-visual art, theoretical or analytical article, provotype, artifact with networked, generative, and/or programmed elements.

Submitted critiques will be evaluated based on:

  • Their ability to critically examine a topic, inspire, and/or spark debate and reflection
  • How well they are made relevant to the conference theme: Computing (X) Crisis

All submitted critiques will undergo double-blind peer reviews, which will be used by the Critiques chairs to make the final decision.

  • Your submission must be anonymized.
  • If you submit a non-written artifact, you must submit a PDF with a description of the submission and the artifact as supplementary material in the submission system.Your submission must be anonymized.
  • Upon acceptance, we will work with you to produce a description of the contribution in the ACM extended abstract format for archival in the ACM digital library.

Workshops

Workshops are spaces for debate and co-development of ideas and approaches related to the advancement of research and practice within the theme of ‘Computing (X) Crisis.’ Workshops are based on participants’ active engagement and contribution. Participants prepare in advance to share perspectives, knowledge, and interest in the workshop theme. The outcomes of workshops include heightened sensitivity to new issues, joint publications and research programs as well as critical yet friendly feedback on emerging ideas. Often, they establish or solidify research networks and contribute to community building.

Successful workshops should make full use of the workshop format, avoiding conference-style paper presentations, and instead prioritise debate and joint action. Proposals that reach out to other disciplines and traditions, as well as to industry, art, activism, and other practices to advance constructive and critical discussions are welcomed. Successful proposals clearly explain the aim and relevance of the workshop, intended audience, planned activities, expected outcomes and impact for the intended community.

The selection process is curated. Workshop selection will happen by the discretion of the Workshop Chairs. Acceptance of proposals will be informed by factors such as:

  • Clarity of intended outcomes, quality of the workshop programme, and value for the participants
  • Prospective participants: Who are they likely to be, and how many could join? Profiles and number of prospective participants
  • Impact and relevance: How does it connect to the conference theme and how does it provide lasting impact to the communities it engages?

Please ensure that you use the correct template, the ACM Conference Proceedings Primary Article; a single-column format must be used for the reviewing phase. ACM Conference Proceedings Primary Article; a single-column format must be used for the reviewing phase.  

Your submission must be anonymized.

Work-in-Progress

The Work-in-Progress category is an opportunity to present ideas in the making and tentative findings. We put weight to contributions that

  • engages with the conference theme
  • has potential for long-lasting impact
  • provides new perspectives

All submitted work-in-progress will be reviewed by one external reviewer (double-blind), which will be used by the work-in-progress chairs to curate the pool of accepted papers in relation to the conference theme.

  • Submissions must be no more than 2500 words (excluding images, figures and references).
  • Please ensure that you use the correct template, the ACM Conference Proceedings Primary Article; a single-column format must be used for the reviewing phase.  
  • Your submission must be anonymized.

Demos

More information will follow.

Doctoral Consortium

More information will follow.

Organizers

General Chairs

  • Morten Kyng, Aarhus University
  • Lone Koefoed Hansen, Aarhus University
  • Clemens Klokmose, Aarhus University

Program Chairs

  • Susanne Bødker, Aarhus University
  • Alex Taylor, University of Edinburgh
  • Eva Eriksson, Aarhus University

Proceedings Chairs

  • Niels Olof Bouvin, Aarhus University

Critiques Chairs

  • Ida Larsen-Ledet, University College Cork
  • Marie Louise Juul Søndergaard, Oslo School of Architecture and Design
  • Jussi Parikka, Aarhus University

Work-in-Progress Chairs

  • Eve Hoggan, Aarhus University
  • Valkyrie Savage, Copenhagen University

Student Volunteer Chairs

  • Magnus Høholt Kaspersen, Aarhus University

Workshop Chairs

  • Jonas Frich, Aarhus University
  • Midas Nouwens, Aarhus University

Doctoral Consortium Chairs

  • Ignacio Avellino, Sorbonne Université
  • Minna Pakanen, Aarhus University

Demonstration Chairs

  • Rikke Hagensby Jensen, Aarhus University

Web & Graphics Chairs

  • Magnus Høholt Kaspersen, Aarhus University
  • Majken Kirkegaard Rasmussen, Aarhus University

Author Guidelines

All submissions are made through the Precision Conference System (PCS 2.0, link will appear here when the system opens for submission) Submissions conflicting with one or more guidelines will be removed before or during the reviewing process.

Template Download Links

Aarhus2025 uses the ACM master article template and workflow for all submissions except Critiques where this template is optional (see the CfC above). Submissions appear in a single-column format although final papers will be produced in double-column.

Overview of the TAPS workflow:
https://authors.acm.org/proceedings/production-information/taps-production-workflow

Microsoft Word:
https://authors.acm.org/proceedings/production-information/preparing-your-article-with-microsoft-word

Latex (use the template files in the linked zip file):
https://authors.acm.org/proceedings/production-information/preparing-your-article-with-latex

Overleaf:
https://authors.acm.org/proceedings/production-information/overleaf

Prepare your submission

To prepare your contribution for submission, use the single column format using the provided Word or LaTeX templates. The correct templates for submissions are: single column Word Submission Template and single column LaTeX (using the “manuscript,review,anonymous” style available in the template).

Submit only the PDF version of your manuscript to PCS. When generating the PDF file, please make sure that the fonts are embedded in the PDF file. This will ensure that reviewers can view the paper without problems. Reviewers will review your paper in the single column format.

Anonymisation

Submissions that are subject to double-blind peer review must be properly anonymized. Author names and affiliations cannot be disclosed. Make sure that author identities are not accidentally disclosed in file meta-data or by supplementary material. Aarhus2025 adheres to the CHI anonymization policy (https://chi2022.acm.org/for-authors/presenting/papers/chi-anonymization-policy/); please note that references to previous work by the authors should not be anonymized but referred to in third person. Sometimes this is tricky but in general, do your best to anonymize.

Copyright

Your submission must be original work. It cannot have been published elsewhere, nor can it be under concurrent review for publication by another conference or journal. All references must be complete, accurate, accessible to the public, and conform to the Conference Proceedings Publication Format. Do not cite publications that are proprietary or confidential at the time of publication.

Final camera-ready versions of accepted submissions must be accompanied by a signed copyright form which will be provided to accepted authors.

Accessibility

Final submissions must adhere to ACM’s guidelines on accessible PDFs: http://www.sigaccess.org/welcome-to-sigaccess/resources/accessible-pdf-author-guide/

We recommend working accessibility into your submission sooner rather than later, as accessibility can be an issue also for reviewers.

Visual and audio materials must also be made accessible. For instance, videos must have captions describing both the audio and the visuals.

Guidance on how to create descriptions for different media: https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/description/

Video example of how to describe visuals in a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3A1VffiOH4

The ACM Technical Requirements and Guidelines for Videos: https://sigchi.org/conferences/author-resources/video-guide/ see in particular the information on accessibility and closed-captions, under “Key Requirements”, “Closed Captions”, and “What accessibility considerations should I pay attention to when recording my video?”

Authors are encouraged to make all parts of their submission accessible. Helpful guidelines and suggestions can be found here:

https://www.w3.org/WAI/design-develop/

https://www.accessibility-services.co.uk/2020/05/20/multimedia-accessibility/

Use of Generative AI-tools in preparing submissions

Aarhus2025 adheres to the SIGCHI Policy on Authorship. The use of generative AI tools and technologies to create content is permitted but must be fully disclosed in the work. Generative AI tools and technologies may not be listed as authors.

Preparing your accepted submission for publication

Instructions for preparing camera-ready submissions will be published at the Aarhus2025 website.