D. Moritz Marutschke

Education

• Ph.D. in Information Science, Kobe University
• M.Eng., Ritsumeikan University

Message to Students

Why do we have search engines with sheer endless knowledge and still no robot that can tie our shoes? In a society with growing technological integration, the need for scientific literacy is growing as well. Having a global and interdisciplinary structure at heart, the Innovation Studies will familiarize students with scientific and algorithmic thinking and also how to program computers. On a more abstract level, we investigate topics of artificial intelligence and their impact on society. We want you to formulate and tackle questions that are inevitable for the future and require collaboration with multi-domain experts.

Courses Taught

Algorithm and Programming

How can we talk to computers? Although the slogan "There is an app for that!" became popular a few years back, there are many unsolved questions and programs that need yet to be developed. In this introductory course, we will learn how to write computer code without requiring any technical background. At the end of the semester, you will be able to write non-trivial programs such as simple games and text analytic tools. This will also equip you with the knowledge to discuss such projects in your future work environment.

Social Change with AI

This course covers concepts and misconceptions about artificial intelligence and how it influences so many aspects of society. The knowledge about the power and pitfalls of intelligent algorithms will sharpen your sensitivity to their usage.

Research Interests

I have been researching the spread of scientific knowledge by using computer models that track infectious diseases like viruses (epidemiological models). My research also involves cultural analysis of color keyword usage on social media sites. Recently, my focus is on educational technologies and e-learning. This involved several global software engineering education projects and the development of e-learning platforms including their philosophical approach to learning.

Journal Articles (Excerpt)

• Daniel Moritz Marutschke, Patricia Brockmann and Victor V. Kryssanov, "Distributed Teams in Global Software Engineering Education: Project-Based Approaches in Bachelor and Master Degree Classes," ICIC-EL, vol.14, no.2, pp. 153-162, 2020
• D. Moritz Marutschke and Hitoshi Ogawa, "Clustering Scientific Publication Trends in Cultural Context Using Epidemiological Model Parameters," Procedia Technology, vol.18, pp. 90-95, 2014
• D. Moritz Marutschke and Hiroshi Nakajima and Naoki Tsuchiya and Mitsuhiro Yoneda and Taro Iwami and Katsuari Kamei, "Actualization of Causality-Based Transparency and Accuracy in System Modeling with Human-Machine Collaboration," IC-MED Journal, vol. 3, no. 2, 131-141, 2009

See more on Ritsumeikan University Researchers Database.

Supervision Information

A thesis under my supervision will include a data gathering and data analysis part. Some programming and statistical knowledge will be necessary. The thesis' topic can be from a range of fields, but will most likely have a cultural or societal connection. Previous topics included analysis of fashion trends on social media, breaking down text from online sources for cultural analysis, a look into society on how words co-occur in online context and similar. Topics can also be from e-learning, e.g., user experience and features of online courses.

Representative Publications

To be added.

Teaching History

I have taught very technical classes such as data-mining and knowledge discovery in databases as well as artistic classes such as introduction to photography. Although mainly in English, I have conducted some of my course in Japanese (Introduction to Programming) or in German (Data-Mining and E-Commerce). These have all added to my passion for teaching and learning, now with a growing list of favorite courses such as Software Engineering to develop usable software in teams (local and distributed), Systems Biology with a hands-on approach to bio-inspired algorithms, and introduction to Algorithm and Programming.