701-0985-00L Social Intercourse with Current Environmental Risks
Semester | Autumn Semester 2016 |
Lecturers | B. Nowack, C. M. Som-Koller |
Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
Language of instruction | German |
Abstract | The lecture treats the social intercourse with risks of technical systems. The notion of risk and the perception of risk are discussed by case studies (e.g. nanotechnology) and socio-political instruments for decision-making are presented. Methods are presented that can be applied to deal with environmental risks and how they can be used for sustainable innovation. |
Objective | - Getting acquainted to the extended risk concept - Evaluation of the risks caused by technology within the societal context - Knowledge about the mode science and society handle current environmental risks (examples gene- and nanotechnology) - Knowledge about handling risks (e.g. precautionary principle, protection goal, damage definition, ethics) Knowledge about possibilities for sustainable innovation |
Content | - Risks and technical systems (risk categories, risk perception, risk management) - Illustration with case studies (nanotechnology) - Implementation (politics, science, media, etc.) - Decision making (technology assessment, cost/benefit analysis etc.) - The role of the media - prospects for future developments |
Lecture notes | Copies of slides and selected documents will be distributed |
Prerequisites / Notice | The lecture is held biweekly (for 2 hours). The dates are 26.9., 3.10. (out of schedule), 24.10, 7.11, 21.11, 5.12, 19.12 |