In this episode, we talk with Mercè Crosas, Director of Computational Social Sciences at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and President of CODATA, about how AI is shaping the future of social science infrastructure. She reflects on her path into computational social science, explains what research infrastructures do and why they matter, and discusses how AI is already improving data access, discovery, and analysis. Mercè also explores what “AI-ready” infrastructures look like, how tools like Dataverse may evolve, and what skills researchers will need in an AI-driven research landscape.
Affiliations:
- Dr Mercè Crosas – Director of Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH) Lab at Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). She also serves on the CODATA board and co-founded Dataverse.
- Dr. Tom Emery – Executive Director of ODISSEI, the Dutch National Infrastructure for Social Science; Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration and Sociology of Erasmus University, Rotterdam
Useful links:
https://www.bsc.es/
https://codata.org/
https://dataverse.org/
What is ODISSEI Podcast?
ODISSEI is the National Research Infrastructure for Social Sciences in the Netherlands, providing access to data, expertise, and computational tools for researchers. With a network of 51 member organizations and key partners like CBS, DANS, eScience Center, SURF, and Centerdata, ODISSEI supports the growing field of computational social science.
In each episode, we cover topics like data access, research tools, and collaborative efforts that shape our understanding of society. Tom Emery, the Executive Director, engages experts in informal conversations, offering listeners an accessible look at how social science infrastructure supports innovative, impactful research.
Follow us on Bluesky and Linkedin and reach out to us via info@odissei-data.nl.