Why do local measures for the German energy transition meet resistance, despite great general approval? Findings by scientists of ITAS and TU Berlin have now been selected and disseminated as a policy brief by the European Commission.

Media contents manipulated with artificial intelligence are a threat to individuals, companies, and our democracy. On behalf of the European Parliament, researchers are investigating how politics and society can counter the phenomenon of “deepfakes”.

What do we know today about the future consequences of technologies? On 17. November 2020, scientists will take the guests of “technik.kontrovers“ on a journey through a quarter century of technology assessment in Karlsruhe.

Can artificial intelligence develop consciousness? How would it work and what effects would it have? ITAS researcher Karsten Wendland goes in search of answers in the podcast, holding exciting weekly discussions with experts.

On 24 September 2020, the ITAS will be open to pupils, students, and those interested in its work. They are invited to find out more about approaches for better climate protection and more sustainability and discuss these topics with researchers.

What are the long-term social consequences of the corona crisis? How will everyday life change, and where should policy intervene? ITAS researchers have put theses up for debate that can be evaluated in an online survey.

Artificial intelligence should help to improve our lives in many different areas. But how do we ensure that society actually benefits from these systems? This question is now in the focus of a dissertation project at ITAS.

More frequent droughts can lead to an increase in the number of forest fires in Germany. Together with other KIT institutes, ITAS wants to contribute to a better understanding of their dynamics and to making the forest more resistant.

Armin Grunwald is the new co-chairman of the National Support Body for the search for a final nuclear waste repository. During the inaugural meeting, Grunwald explained that the body has to play a proactive role in the selection process in the future.

How sustainable are different approaches to use carbon dioxide as raw material instead of emitting it into the atmosphere? An ITAS team deals with this question in two projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Digital technologies are a great help, but cannot replace analogue communication in the long term, says head of ITAS Armin Grunwald. At the same time, it is important to make us more aware of our dependence on technologies and economic processes.

What is the potential of new IT and communication technologies with regard to radicalization processes? In the BMBF project MOTRA, ITAS deals with innovation dynamics and examines their side effects and ethical aspects.

How can the EU implement its climate targets without losing sight of social, economic, and environmental objectives? Indicators developed by ITAS in the EU project SUPEERA are intended to provide orientation in the evaluation of energy policies.

This year’s ITAS Summer School in San Sebastián deals with the ambivalences of “open science” in times of social and scientific change. PhD students are welcome to apply until 15 March 2020.

On 28 January 2020, the podcast „Labor Zukunft – Forschung ohne Kittel“ started on Campusradio Karlsruhe. Every two months, it now provides insights into real-world lab research and practice for a good and sustainable life in Karlsruhe.

A close connection to democratic societies has always been a characteristic of technology assessment. So how should TA deal with the current crisis of democracy? The authors of the current TATuP are looking for answers.

Who knows and uses petitions to the German Bundestag? And how did people learn about the right to petition? The TAB-Sensor Nr. 3 approaches these core questions from the perspective of internet users resident in Germany.

How can AI be designed and used in the interest of users? An important condition is that decisions of learning systems can be clearly understood in the future, says a team of authors including ITAS head Armin Grunwald.

Is TA committed to other factors besides impartial expertise and basic democratic values? How should its actors deal with normative claims? Researcher from the field are looking for answers in a new book.

In a study for the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency ITAS researcher Carsten Orwat analysed “Risks of Discrimination through the Use of Algorithms”. To make the results internationally accessible the publication is now available in English.

The TAB-Arbeitsbericht Nr. 186 summarizes the state of scientific knowledge regarding the extent and trends of light pollution and its effects.

A statement by the German academies of science highlights research needs, potentials, and options for action in dealing with additive manufacturing processes. One of the authors is Rafaela Hillerbrand, professor of philosophy of technology at ITAS.

TAB-Arbeitsbericht Nr. 185 deals with the use of technologies in legal advice, ranging from simple, platform-based support to partially or fully automated solutions.

Modern societies depend on digital infrastructures and have to defend themselves against cyberattacks. The Special Topic of the current TATuP issue deals with the possibilities and risks of the employed technologies.

Five new short thematic profiles from TAB's Horizon Scanning offer condensed information on current scientific and technological trends and socio-economic developments in early stages of development.