Disrupting Technology Conference 2025, Leeds

The Disrupting Technology conference is located in the context of increasing interest and debate on the impact of digital technologies on the world of work and employment. Much of the discussion on recent technological shifts has focused on challenging technological determinism or potentially optimistic or pessimistic visions of the future of work. It is recognised, for example, that digital technologies can both create and displace jobs, and that the impact of new technologies on the nature of work is shaped by a variety of contextual factors, both at the workplace and beyond. Despite this, much of the debate on the technological future of work remains speculative, while contemporary developments, such as the rise of platforms, are often presented as overly novel and dislocated from historical patterns of capitalist development and employer strategy.

Against this backdrop, the Disrupting Technology conference calls for more careful, empirically grounded, theorisations of technology, its novelty and its impact on work and employment relations. Beyond the technology itself, what is genuinely novel and transformative about automation, AI, ‘platformisation’ and other digital innovations, and which more mundane technologies might we be missing from the analysis? We welcome contributions across the following and similar themes:

• Digital transformations and the future of work
• The state, regulation and new technology
• Historical patterns of new technologies at work
• Management, organization, and technology
• Occupations, skills, professions, and technology
• Inequalities (race, gender, (dis)ability, income) and technology
• Labour mobility, migration and technology
• Management by algorithms and metric and new regimes of control
• Resisting, negotiating and new social contracts of technology at work
• Methods for studying work and technology – towards a research agenda
• Ethical concerns in the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics in the workplace

We intend that contributions recognise the influence of conflicted interests and actions by managers, workers, the state and other social actors on the patterns, processes and outcomes of technological innovation. By devoting more attention to contextualising and historicising the relationship between technology and work, we ask contributors to develop more critical accounts of the extent of transformation and disruption, vis-à-vis entrenchment or continuity of existing social relations and employment relationships.

Expressions of interest in presenting at the Disrupting Technology conference should be submitted in the form of an abstract to ceric@leeds.ac.uk by Friday 7th March 2025. Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words. Abstracts should include the paper title; core research question(s); contribution or debate; methods; key findings. We welcome theoretical, empirical and comparative analysis. There is no methodological preference. Early findings of ongoing research projects are encouraged.

Proposals for special panels within the conference are also welcome. Proposals should specify the rationale for such a panel and indicate the proposed speakers. We will confirm acceptance of conference papers by the end of March.

Submissions have now closed. Conference registration will open at the beginning of April.

Leeds is a vibrant and multicultural place, and one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the UK. There are plenty of exciting things to do in Leeds. For more comprehensive information and ideas, see the Visit Leeds website.  

The city has a fantastic food and drink scene, with world cuisines from all corners of the globe. Venues like Kirkgate market and Trinity Leeds food court offer a variety of street food. Shoppers can shop ‘til they drop on Briggate and at Trinity Leeds shopping mall, Victoria Leeds shopping centre, as well as the Grand Arcade and Leeds Corn Exchange, where lots of independent retailers can be found.  

Leeds has a thriving theatre and cinema scene. The city is home to Leeds Playhouse, The Carriageworks, City Varieties, and Hyde Park Picture House. Leeds Grand Theatre shows major touring productions including those from Northern Ballet and Opera North.  

Leeds is also a hub for arts and culture, with plenty of outstanding museums and galleries to visit. The city is home to Leeds City Museum, the Royal Armouries, Leeds City Art Gallery, and the Henry Moore Institute.   

For live music lovers, Leeds’ First Direct Arena and the O2 Academy attract some of the world’s best-known artists. Smaller venues include Brudenell Social Club, Belgrave Music Hall and The Wardrobe. Leeds Town Hall regularly hosts classical musicians and orchestra performances. The Howard Assembly Room hosts jazz, world music, folk and classical acts.  

Sport is a big part of Leeds’ history and identity. Leeds is a famous hub for rugby league, and home of Leeds Rhinos. Leeds United Football Club is one of the longest established football teams in the UK, with Elland Road a short bus ride from the city centre. For cricket, Headingly Carnegie Cricket Ground is a thirty-minute walk from campus, hosting international Test matches and Twenty20 games.   

Leeds also has plenty of parks and countryside to enjoy, easily reached by foot, bike, or public transport. In the city, Roundhay Park and Woodhouse Moor are close to campus. The Leeds Liverpool canal is popular with walkers and cyclists. Outside of the city, Yorkshire is a region of outstanding natural beauty, offering stunning peaks, lush valleys, gentle rolling hills, moorland and a jigsaw coastline - the great outdoors is brimming with opportunities for fun and exploration. There is easy access to the Peak District, The North York Moors, and Yorkshire Dales, which are all National Parks. More information about visiting Yorkshire can be found on the Welcome to Yorkshire website.  

Leeds is well-served by multiple forms of transport. Within the UK, it is easily accessible by train and is also close to the M1 motorway. For international visitors arriving by air, Leeds Bradford is the closest international airport. Leeds is also accessible by train from the much larger Manchester Airport.  

For coach details, visit the National Express website. Most coaches arrive into Leeds Bus Station. For local bus information and timetables, visit the West Yorkshire Metro website. There is also a Leeds CityBus that stops at the bus and train stations which may be helpful when finding your way around the city. 

More details are available on the Visit Leeds website. 

Cloth Hall Court

Cloth Hall Court is our city centre venue, located on Quebec Street just a 2-minute walk from the train station. It is also just a 15-minute walk from the coach station. Cloth Hall Court does not have car parking available on site. However, there are a number of car parks in Leeds city centre, details of which can be found here.

Radisson Blu Leeds

Malmaison Leeds

Quebecs Hotel

Queens Hotel

ibis Marlborough Street

Holiday Inn Express Leeds City Centre