On October 23, 2025, the DIZH Public Data Lab (PDL) was launched at the Toni-Areal. Over 100 guests from the fields of science, administration, art, and civil society came together to discuss a key question: How do we measure the pulse of the canton of Zurich?
Karin Mairitsch, president of ZHdK, opened the evening and welcomed, among others, Government Councillor Jacqueline Fehr. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation: social developments can only be understood when different perspectives are brought together. The Public Data Lab contributes to creating new forms of cooperation and trust between science, administration, and the public.
Ross Purves, Professor of Geocomputation at the University of Zurich and initiator of the PDL, explained the idea behind the project: indicators and data are not only tools for measurement, but also starting points for social exchange. The PDL aims to promote this dialogue with the population, critically question data and highlight gaps.
The panel discussion made it clear that data has not only statistical but also social and cultural significance. It opens up new perspectives, but also reveals gaps, e.g. where people or realities of life are missing from the statistics.
Finally, artist and computer scientist Valentina Vuksic transformed data processes into audible sounds and demonstrated how digital phenomena can be experienced with the senses.
A detailed report on the launch and further information can be found on the Public Data Lab website.
