Conference on “Inequality & Networks/Relationships” at TH Köln

On March 12 and 13, 2025, the conference “Inequality & Networks/Relationships” took place at TH Köln. It was a joint event organized by the Career Cluster “Social Networks and Social Inequality” at TH Köln, the “Sociological Network Research” section of the German Sociological Association, and the DGNet working group "Networks & Culture" working group, coordinated by Dr. Philip Roth.

In seven thematically focused sessions, researchers discussed current research findings on social networks and their significance for the reproduction of social inequalities.

Topics included elite networks, discrimination in schools, the role of networks in the health sector, and the impact of digitality on social relationships. A highlight of the conference was the poster competition. A total of nine posters were presented, showcasing a variety of perspectives on networks and social inequality. First place went to Sarah Lamb from TU Dortmund University for her contribution on “Networks in the ecosystem of vocational rehabilitation and participation.”

With a lively poster session, insightful presentations, and intense discussions, the conference made an important contribution to networking among researchers and to the further development of sociological network research in the context of social inequality.