!!Elena Esposito awarded the 2026 Balzan Prize
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__The Academia Europaea is delighted to announce the award of the 2026 Balzan Prize for The Social Science of Digital Technology to [Professor Elena Esposito|Member/Esposito_Elena] MAE, Università di Bologna and Universität Bielefeld. Prof. Esposito was elected as Member of the [Film, Media and Visual Studies|Acad_Main/Sections/Film_media_and_visual_studies] Section of Academia Europaea in 2020.__
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The International Balzan Foundation recognizes Prof. Esposito "''for her groundbreaking theoretical contribution to the social science of digital technology, and in particular for her concept of artificial communication, which reframes the question of artificial intelligence by showing that algorithms can participate in social exchange in the absence of understanding. For providing a rigorous and innovative framework that could transform social science engagement with artificial intelligence across every domain in which algorithmic systems are becoming active participants. For her sustained programme of empirical research applying these insights to algorithmic prediction in finance, medicine, and public policy''".
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The 2026 Balzan Prizes will be presented in Rome on November 19, 2026 in the presence of the president of the Italian Republic. 
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[{Image src='Esposito_Elena_small.jpg' caption='Professor Elena Esposito' height='400' alt='Professor Elena Esposito' align='center'}]

!About Elena Esposito

Elena Esposito took her PhD in Sociology in 1990 at the University of Bielefeld. She has a long career that spans several areas of media sociology with a special focus on digital media, artificial intelligence, etc. A student of Niklas Luhmann, she has also made significant contributions to introduce systems theory to an Italian audience. She has also worked on memory studies and media, on interpretation, financial systems, etc. She has published 13 books, and numerous peer review articles.
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Esposito presently upholds professorships in both Bologna and Bielefeld. She has also been invited for fellowships by several prestigious institutions in Europe, USA and China.
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She is presently directing an ERC Advanced Grant, and has also received large grants from the Volkswagen Stiftung and the Leverhulme Trust.
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!About the Balzan Prize

The [International Balzan Prize Foundation|https://www.balzan.org/en] aims is to promote culture, the sciences, and the most meritorious initiatives in the cause of humanity, peace, and fraternity among peoples throughout the world.
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The Balzan Foundation selects four prize recipients annually—two in the physical and natural sciences, and two in the humanities—focusing on research defined by its relevance, rigor, and capacity to address the complex problems facing society. 
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[Academia Europaea Balzan Prize Awardees|Acad_Main/Members/Prizes_Awards_and_Medals/Balzan_Prize].

!!Academia Europaea congratulate Prof. Esposito to this outstanding disctinction!
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Posted  8%%sup th/% September 2026 by Academia Europaea.\\
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