Laura Guntrum, M.A.
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiterin / Doktorandin
Kontakt: +49 (0) 6151 / 1620947 | guntrum@peasec.tu-darmstadt.de
PGP: Öffentlicher Schlüssel (bis 14.09.2024)
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Fachbereich Informatik,
Wissenschaft und Technik für Frieden und Sicherheit (PEASEC)
Pankratiusstraße 2, 64289 Darmstadt, Raum 113
DE
Laura Gianna Guntrum (sie/ihr), M.A., ist wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin am Lehrstuhl Wissenschaft und Technik für Frieden und Sicherheit (PEASEC) am Fachbereich Informatik der Technischen Universität Darmstadt. Dort ist sie im „TraCe“ Projekt tätig und beschäftigt sich mit dem Einsatz von Technik und welche Auswirkungen Technik potentiell auf politische Gewalt haben. Besonders interessieren sie Proteste und Konflikttransformationprozesse. Ihre weiteren Forschungsinteressen sind Dual-Use-Technologien, (naturwissenschaftlich-technische) Friedens- und Konfliktforschung sowie intersektionale Ansätze innerhalb der Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (insbesondere feministische Themen).
Im Bachelor studierte sie Kulturwissenschaften und Europawissenschaften an der Universität Passau und an der Rey Juan Carlos Universität in Madrid. Ihren Masterstudienabschluss absolvierte sie in Internationale Studien/ Friedens- und Konfliktforschung an der TU Darmstadt und der Goethe Universität in Frankfurt. Ein Auslandssemester verbrachte sie an der Universidad de Costa Rica in San José. In ihrer Masterarbeit beschäftigte sie sich mit der transnationalen costa-ricanischen Solidaritätsbewegung in Nicaragua. Neben dem Studium arbeitete Laura Guntrum freiberuflich als Multiplikatorin für Bildung trifft Entwicklung im Bereich Globales Lernen (insbesondere zu Themen der Nachhaltigkeit und Gerechtigkeit). Nach ihrem Master war sie bereits für ein Jahr bei PEASEC als Hilfskraft tätig und absolvierte eine berufsbegleitende Ausbildung zur Friedensfachkraft beim Forum ziviler Friedensdienst (ZFD). Aktuell ist Laura Guntrum Teil der Arbeitsgruppe „Ethics und Safety“, angesiedelt beim Leipnitz Institut. Die Gruppe ist offen für alle interessierten Wissenschaftler:innen, sodass weitere Unterstützer:innen jederzeit herzlich willkommen sind.
EN
Laura Gianna Guntrum (she/her), M.A., is a research associate at Science and Technology for Peace and Security (PEASEC) in the Department of Computer Science at the Technical University of Darmstadt. She is currently working on the “TraCe” project, focusing on how technology might change political violence. Generally, her research interest includes intersectional approaches within peace and conflict studies (particularly feminist issues) and the use of ICT in protest movements and conflict transformation.
She studies “International Business and Cultural Studies” (B.A.) and “European Studies”(B.A.) at the University of Passau and Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid. Furthermore, she completed her Master’s degree in „International Studies / Peace and Conflict Research“ (M.A.) at the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Technical University of Darmstadt, and the University of Costa Rica. In her Master’s thesis she dealt with the transnational Costa Rican solidarity movement in Nicaragua. Besides her studies, Laura Guntrum worked as a freelancer for several NGOs. She mostly focuses on sustainability and justice. After her master’s degree, she completed a training as a peace specialist at the Forum for Civil Peace Service (ZFD).
Currently, Laura Guntrum is part of the working group „Ethics and Safety“, originally iniated by the Leipnitz Institute. The group is open to all interested researchers, so further supporters are always warmly welcome.
Publikationen
[BibTeX] [Abstract]
In Colombia, Transitional Justice (TJ) institutions were established after years of violent conflict as part of the 2016 peace agreement between the FARC and the Colombian government. By analysing the posting behaviour of the government-appointed TJ institutions on Facebook, we show how general TJ aims and opportunities for citizen participation were promoted in 2019. Our analysis reveals that the organisations rarely address topics related to reconciliation and that active online participation and two-way communication are rather scarce. Instead, Facebook is mainly used by the TJ organisations to increase solidarity with victims and disseminate information about their work and the TJ process. Reflecting on existing literature on TJ and social media participation, we identify great potential for expanding TJ goals and community engagement on social media, to use it as a resource for facilitating the TJ processes, creating exchange, and enabling participation.
@article{haunschild_towards_2024,
title = {Towards a {Digitally} {Mediated} {Transitional} {Justice} {Process}? {An} {Analysis} of {Colombian} {Transitional} {Justice} {Organisations}’ {Posting} {Behaviour} on {Facebook}},
abstract = {In Colombia, Transitional Justice (TJ) institutions were established after years of violent conflict as part of the 2016 peace agreement between the FARC and the Colombian government. By analysing the posting behaviour of the government-appointed TJ institutions on Facebook, we show how general TJ aims and opportunities for citizen participation were promoted in 2019. Our analysis reveals that the organisations rarely address topics related to reconciliation and that active online participation and two-way communication are rather scarce. Instead, Facebook is mainly used by the TJ organisations to increase solidarity with victims and disseminate information about their work and the TJ process. Reflecting on existing literature on TJ and social media participation, we identify great potential for expanding TJ goals and community engagement on social media, to use it as a resource for facilitating the TJ processes, creating exchange, and enabling participation.},
journal = {Peace and Conflict Studies},
author = {Haunschild, Jasmin and Guntrum, Laura and Cerrillo, Sofía and Bujara, Franziska and Reuter, Christian},
year = {2024},
keywords = {SocialMedia, Student, Peace, Projekt-ATHENE-SecUrban},
}
[BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]
Like past crises, the COVID-19 pandemic has also activated individual volunteers to help to respond to the crisis. This includes digital volunteers, who have organized physical aid and conducted activities on social media. Analyzing German volunteering support groups on Facebook and related Reddit threads in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we {\textbackslash}updatedshow what type of help is offered and how social media users interact with each other, trying to cope with the situation. We reveal that most users offering help online conduct mostly typical care work, such as buying groceries or giving advice. Crucially, volunteering is characterized by relationships of care and thus builds on affirmative interactions. Albeit some misdirected offers and regressive interruptions, people use the possibility to make their voices heard and, showing empathy, help each other to cope with crisis. Social media like Facebook mediate societal structures, including relationships of care, offering a space for continuous, cumulatively resilient conduct of care work. Reflecting on the traditional division of labor in crisis volunteering and counter-productive dynamics of care and empathy, we aim for feminist ethics of care which allows for interactions on social media that foster generative computer-supported collaboration.
@article{schmid_digital_2023,
title = {Digital {Volunteers} {During} the {COVID}-19 {Pandemic}: {Care} {Work} on {Social} {Media} for {Socio}-technical {Resilience}},
volume = {3},
issn = {2748-5625},
url = {https://ojs.weizenbaum-institut.de/index.php/wjds/article/view/78},
doi = {10.34669/WI.WJDS/3.3.6},
abstract = {Like past crises, the COVID-19 pandemic has also activated individual volunteers to help to respond to the crisis. This includes digital volunteers, who have organized physical aid and conducted activities on social media. Analyzing German volunteering support groups on Facebook and related Reddit threads in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we {\textbackslash}updatedshow what type of help is offered and how social media users interact with each other, trying to cope with the situation. We reveal that most users offering help online conduct mostly typical care work, such as buying groceries or giving advice. Crucially, volunteering is characterized by relationships of care and thus builds on affirmative interactions. Albeit some misdirected offers and regressive interruptions, people use the possibility to make their voices heard and, showing empathy, help each other to cope with crisis. Social media like Facebook mediate societal structures, including relationships of care, offering a space for continuous, cumulatively resilient conduct of care work. Reflecting on the traditional division of labor in crisis volunteering and counter-productive dynamics of care and empathy, we aim for feminist ethics of care which allows for interactions on social media that foster generative computer-supported collaboration.},
number = {1},
journal = {Weizenbaum Journal of the Digital Society},
author = {Schmid, Stefka and Guntrum, Laura and Haesler, Steffen and Schultheiß, Lisa and Reuter, Christian},
month = may,
year = {2023},
keywords = {Crisis, HCI, SocialMedia, Student, Peace, Projekt-ATHENE-SecUrban, Projekt-emergenCITY, Projekt-TraCe},
}
[BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]
The article examines which technical aspects of autonomous driving are potentially transferable to the military sector. Through expert interviews the strong fragmentation of technologies in the field of autonomous driving becomes apparent. This hinders the clear identification of a specific dual-use technology. Environmental perception, artificial intelligence and sensors are considered to have the highest transferability rate from civil research to the military sector. Therefore, sensor development should receive special attention.
@article{guntrum_dual-use_2023,
title = {Dual-{Use} {Technologies} in the {Context} of {Autonomous} {Driving}: {An} {Empirical} {Case} {Study} {From} {Germany}},
issn = {1866-2196},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12399-022-00935-3},
doi = {10.1007/s12399-022-00935-3},
abstract = {The article examines which technical aspects of autonomous driving are potentially transferable to the military sector. Through expert interviews the strong fragmentation of technologies in the field of autonomous driving becomes apparent. This hinders the clear identification of a specific dual-use technology. Environmental perception, artificial intelligence and sensors are considered to have the highest transferability rate from civil research to the military sector. Therefore, sensor development should receive special attention.},
journal = {Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik (ZfAS)},
author = {Guntrum, Laura and Schwartz, Sebastian and Reuter, Christian},
month = jan,
year = {2023},
keywords = {Peace, Projekt-ATHENE-SecUrban, Projekt-TraCe},
}
[BibTeX]
@book{reuter_christian_science_2023,
address = {Darmstadt, Germany},
title = {{SCIENCE} {PEACE} {SECURITY} '23 - {Proceedings} of the {Interdisciplinary} {Conference} on {Technical} {Peace} and {Security} {Research}},
publisher = {TUprints},
author = {{Reuter, Christian} and Riebe, Thea and Guntrum, Laura},
year = {2023},
keywords = {Crisis, Security, Peace, Projekt-CROSSING, Projekt-TraCe},
}
[BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]
Given the lack of empirical examples of how research can be conducted via digital means in sensitive contexts, this paper provides a threat model using Afghanistan, where the Taliban took power in August 2021, as an example. Both technical and non-technical research-related risks are analyzed, paying attention to research ethics, data security, and privacy. We argue that any threat model and risk analysis is highly context-dependent. Our analysis reveals that in certain research processes, human security does not necessarily coincide with data security and that an ambivalence exists between privacy and usability. In addition to the concrete threat analysis, the paper identifies some general technical solutions (e.g., encryption methods, communication software) for different research steps to foster secure and ethically justifiable research.
@article{guntrum_using_2022,
title = {Using {Digitally} {Mediated} {Methods} in {Sensitive} {Contexts}: {A} {Threat} {Analysis} and {Critical} {Reflection} on {Security}, {Privacy}, and {Ethical} {Concerns} in the {Case} of {Afghanistan}},
volume = {11},
issn = {2524-6976},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42597-022-00088-2},
doi = {10.1007/s42597-022-00088-2},
abstract = {Given the lack of empirical examples of how research can be conducted via digital means in sensitive contexts, this paper provides a threat model using Afghanistan, where the Taliban took power in August 2021, as an example. Both technical and non-technical research-related risks are analyzed, paying attention to research ethics, data security, and privacy. We argue that any threat model and risk analysis is highly context-dependent. Our analysis reveals that in certain research processes, human security does not necessarily coincide with data security and that an ambivalence exists between privacy and usability. In addition to the concrete threat analysis, the paper identifies some general technical solutions (e.g., encryption methods, communication software) for different research steps to foster secure and ethically justifiable research.},
number = {2},
journal = {Zeitschrift für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (ZeFKo)},
author = {Guntrum, Laura and Güldenring, Benjamin and Kuntke, Franz and Reuter, Christian},
month = oct,
year = {2022},
keywords = {Peace, Projekt-ATHENE-FANCY, Projekt-TraCe},
pages = {95--128},
}
[BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]
In the digital age, the vision of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is vibrant. Research is being conducted worldwide to inte-grate AVs into our everyday lives in the future, spending consid-erable amounts of money in the development process. Actors from both engineering as well as social sciences are involved in this re-search, with technical disciplines strongly dominating. In addition to perceived progress of numerous newly developed technologies such as AVs, challenges should also be referred to. According to research analysis, the transferability of autonomous cars to the military sphere seems to be frequently forgotten or ignored (dual-use). Since not much research has been conducted in Germany on the potential deployment of autonomous driving development steps into military domains, 25 semi-structured interviews with de-velopers and researchers and actors involved in the field, were conducted in 2020. The paper identifies that the majority of re-spondents interviewed were aware of general existing dual-use de-bates, however, few had reflected about dual-use issues regarding a possible transfer of their own development processes in the con-text of autonomous driving to military applications, intensively. One reason is the small-scale nature of research, another is the complexity of the field, which enables the engineer’s alienation from their responsibility for the artefacts’ use. Moreover, it has become clear that hardly any conversations among colleagues oc-cur about possible misuse and that no standardized policy guide-lines exist, which provide information about possible risk. To raise dual-use awareness, scientific contributions, risk education, and interdisciplinary discussions are essential.
@article{schwartz_vision_2022,
title = {Vision or {Threat} – {Awareness} for {Dual}-{Use} in the {Development} of {Autonomous} {Driving}},
volume = {3},
issn = {2637-6415},
url = {https://www.peasec.de/paper/2022/2022_SchwartzGuntrumReuter_VisionorThreatAwarenessDualUseAutonomousDriving_IEEE-TTS.pdf},
doi = {10.1109/TTS.2022.3182310},
abstract = {In the digital age, the vision of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is vibrant. Research is being conducted worldwide to inte-grate AVs into our everyday lives in the future, spending consid-erable amounts of money in the development process. Actors from both engineering as well as social sciences are involved in this re-search, with technical disciplines strongly dominating. In addition to perceived progress of numerous newly developed technologies such as AVs, challenges should also be referred to. According to research analysis, the transferability of autonomous cars to the military sphere seems to be frequently forgotten or ignored (dual-use). Since not much research has been conducted in Germany on the potential deployment of autonomous driving development steps into military domains, 25 semi-structured interviews with de-velopers and researchers and actors involved in the field, were conducted in 2020. The paper identifies that the majority of re-spondents interviewed were aware of general existing dual-use de-bates, however, few had reflected about dual-use issues regarding a possible transfer of their own development processes in the con-text of autonomous driving to military applications, intensively. One reason is the small-scale nature of research, another is the complexity of the field, which enables the engineer’s alienation from their responsibility for the artefacts’ use. Moreover, it has become clear that hardly any conversations among colleagues oc-cur about possible misuse and that no standardized policy guide-lines exist, which provide information about possible risk. To raise dual-use awareness, scientific contributions, risk education, and interdisciplinary discussions are essential.},
language = {en},
number = {3},
journal = {IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society},
author = {Schwartz, Sebastian and Guntrum, Laura and Reuter, Christian},
year = {2022},
keywords = {Selected, A-Paper, Ranking-ImpactFactor, Peace, AuswahlPeace, Projekt-ATHENE-FANCY, Projekt-TraCe},
pages = {163--174},
}
[BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]
Not only since the COVID-19 pandemic, many research processes had already been increasingly digitized to maintain global ex-change of information efficiently. For years, scientific empirical studies have been conducted in politically sensitive contexts using digitally mediated methods, entailing numerous risks as well as potentials. One goal of digital research is to also capture marginal-ized voices. With emerging risks related to digital research, such as digital surveillance and social media monitoring by adversaries (e.g., the military in Myanmar), research needs to be more thoughtfully conducted. Considering research ethics, an evolving discrepancy between security measures and values of social jus-tice, such as accessibility and representation, appears as most data-secure applications are not used widely and offers such as “Free Basics” entice people to use rather data-unsecure applica-tions. Reflecting on this existing discrepancy in ethical require-ments, I illustrate challenges of the German research context re-lated to digitally conducted research focusing on overt conflictive social contexts.
@inproceedings{guntrum_justice-oriented_2022,
address = {Darmstadt},
series = {Mensch und {Computer} 2022 - {Workshopband}},
title = {Justice-oriented {Research} in {Peace} and {Conflict} {Studies} in {Times} of {Social} {Distancing}},
url = {https://dl.gi.de/handle/20.500.12116/39092},
doi = {10.18420/muc2022-mci-ws10-216},
abstract = {Not only since the COVID-19 pandemic, many research processes had already been increasingly digitized to maintain global ex-change of information efficiently. For years, scientific empirical studies have been conducted in politically sensitive contexts using digitally mediated methods, entailing numerous risks as well as potentials. One goal of digital research is to also capture marginal-ized voices. With emerging risks related to digital research, such as digital surveillance and social media monitoring by adversaries (e.g., the military in Myanmar), research needs to be more thoughtfully conducted. Considering research ethics, an evolving discrepancy between security measures and values of social jus-tice, such as accessibility and representation, appears as most data-secure applications are not used widely and offers such as “Free Basics” entice people to use rather data-unsecure applica-tions. Reflecting on this existing discrepancy in ethical require-ments, I illustrate challenges of the German research context re-lated to digitally conducted research focusing on overt conflictive social contexts.},
language = {en},
booktitle = {Workshop-{Proceedings} {Mensch} und {Computer}},
publisher = {Gesellschaft für Informatik},
author = {Guntrum, Laura},
year = {2022},
keywords = {Security, Peace, Projekt-ATHENE-FANCY, Projekt-TraCe},
}
[BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]
Journalists and ethnographic researchers, such as anthropologists, sociologists or media scholars, have comparable ways of establishing initial contacts with people from their fields of interest. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and consequential travel restrictions and social distancing, it has become increasingly difficult to access a field. Taking inspiration from social anthropologist Ulf Hannerz (2004, p. 226), who compared journalists and anthropologists as “neighboring groups engaged in a somehow parallel pursuit,” this article explores what researchers may learn from practitioners who conduct research without being on-site. Fed by various practical journalists’ experiences, the article aims to investigate how information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digitally mediated methods, such as online search tools and social media, can be used to establish contacts and gain trust remotely. Here, the relevance of these methods for accessing a field in general goes beyond the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be of interest to all those who face difficulties of field access of any kind. Ultimately, this article reflects on corresponding ethical challenges that may arise while conducting research remotely.
@article{guntrum_remotely_2022,
title = {Remotely {Accessing} the {Field} and {Building} {Trust} with {Distant} {Sources}. {Perspectives} from {Journalism} {Practice} for {Ethnographic} {Research}},
volume = {12},
url = {https://globalmediajournal.de/index.php/gmj/article/view/220},
abstract = {Journalists and ethnographic researchers, such as anthropologists, sociologists or media scholars, have comparable ways of establishing initial contacts with people from their fields of interest. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and consequential travel restrictions and social distancing, it has become increasingly difficult to access a field. Taking inspiration from social anthropologist Ulf Hannerz (2004, p. 226), who compared journalists and anthropologists as “neighboring groups engaged in a somehow parallel pursuit,” this article explores what researchers may learn from practitioners who conduct research without being on-site. Fed by various practical journalists’ experiences, the article aims to investigate how information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digitally mediated methods, such as online search tools and social media, can be used to establish contacts and gain trust remotely. Here, the relevance of these methods for accessing a field in general goes beyond the limitations imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be of interest to all those who face difficulties of field access of any kind. Ultimately, this article reflects on corresponding ethical challenges that may arise while conducting research remotely.},
number = {1},
journal = {Global Media Journal - German Edition},
author = {Guntrum, Laura and Keßler, Mira and Patel, Jignesh and Varfolomeeva, Anna},
year = {2022},
keywords = {Peace, Projekt-TraCe},
}
Vorherige Publikationen:
Guntrum, Laura (2020): GBV am Beispiel der Dominikanischen Republik, in: Lateinamerika Nachrichten. Ausgabe Dez.2020 (558), S. 46-47.
Guntrum, Laura (2019): Das war auch unsere Revolution. Die costa-ricanische Nicaraguasolidarität 1979, in Grenz/ Städte, Ila Ausgabe 427. Bonn, Informationsstelle Lateinamerika (Ila). S. 43-46.
Beiträge in der „Wandelfibel-Wegweiser*in für ein zukunftsfähiges Leben“ (2019). Verfügbar unter: globales-lernen.de.
Guntrum, Laura/ Hemm, Alina/ Kollmar/ Sophie/ Hohendanner, Nikola (2016): It‘s all right man?! Geltung und Genesis der Menschenrechte in Welt[bilder]: Eine multimediale Annäherung an ein interdisziplinäres Phänomen, S. 74-105.
Guntrum, Laura/ Albrecht, Lisa/ Apelt, Lynn (2016): Das Recht auf Gesundheit: Ein globaler Konflikt? inKonflikt[gemeinschaft]: Eine multimediale Annäherung an ein interdisziplinäres Phänomen, S. 164- 175.