Interview with Kepler Award Winner Joaquin Santuber

Dr. Joaquin Santuber and his team were awarded in the category Special Jury Award.

Santuber is 36 years old and he relaxes while doing garden work. It is especially the trees that he is fond of. In the interview, the researcher (LIFT_C) talks about his motivation and wishes for the future.

What motivates you to go into knowledge transfer?
Dr. Joaquin Santuber: The legal system and its regulations should be designed to serve the public, ensuring that fundamental rights such as human dignity and freedom are upheld and fortified. If individuals are unaware of these rights and cannot perceive or comprehend the law, their concern for these fundamental rights diminishes.

Why is this work so important?
Dr. Joaquin Santuber: Digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are innovations that generate new social dynamics. It is a common misconception that they operate in a lawless space; however, this is not accurate. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of each individual and the community to ensure that digital spaces and the utilization of AI technologies are managed in a manner that guarantees safety, equality, and dignity for all users in their daily interactions with technology.

How do the people react when they acquire new knowledge with your support?
Dr. Joaquin Santuber: Initially, with surprise! A stop button? Yes, a stop button! The concept proposed by the EU legislator to include a stop button as a last resort in the event that AI models cause harm is quite intuitive - we all have encountered and pressed a red button at some point in our lives. This approach was very helpful in establishing an entry point into the subject, as both children and adults were eager to press the stop button for AI.

What are your wishes for the future when it comes to science?
Dr. Joaquin Santuber: It is encouraging to observe that an increasing number of research projects are engaging broader audiences in public spaces, extending beyond mere scientific communication or dissemination to encompass participatory knowledge creation. In the legal domain, I anticipate seeing more scholarly efforts aimed at making law and justice more accessible and closer to people.