New textbook on technology assessment

The textbook, which is aimed at students as well as career changers, shows, among other things, how technology assessment (TA) can contribute in a future-oriented and participatory way to the responsible, democratic, and sustainable development of technological progress. To this end, Armin Grunwald takes a look at fields of practice that span all technologies, such as digitalization, energy transition, and genetic engineering.

The book explains, besides other topics, the historical development of TA, deals with theory formation and debates, and offers – also against the background of the pandemic – an outlook on the future of the subject. With a variety of practical examples from project research, Armin Grunwald also provides a picture of how TA can be implemented in specific cases.

The now third completely updated and expanded edition also addresses a number of new developments affecting TA. These include, for example, the handling of future scenarios in visionary technology debates, increased demands for participation from civil society, the growing importance of TA in university teaching, or the crisis of many democracies. (02.08.2022)

Bibliographic information:

Grunwald, Armin
Technikfolgenabschätzung. Einführung.
3rd, completely updated and expanded edition, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2022, 283 S., ISBN 978-3-8487-8498-1
Publisher information