A social science project dealing with possibilities of understanding in the Coronavirus crisis
About
Karen Kastenhofer is a scholar in Science and Technology Studies (STS) and holds a PhD in biology. Her area of work encompasses the reconstruction of (techno)epistemic cultures, the analysis of public controversies and the discussion of potential governance approaches in the realm of the life sciences and biotechnologies.
Education
Born in 1974 in Vienna, Karen Kastenhofer studied biology and human ecology at the Universities of Vienna and Brussels. Since 1999 her focus lies in Science and Technology Studies (University of Vienna; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, IFF). Her doctoral thesis (2005) addresses the epistemic culture of biology.
Experience
From 1999 to 2004, Karen Kastenhofer was employed as a researcher at the department for the analysis of culture and science at the IFF (research project “Science as Culture”; academic curricula “Studium Integrale” and “Science Communication” led by R. Fischer and M. Arnold). From 2005 to 2007, she contributed to the research project “Nichtwissenskulturen” at the University of Augsburg (S. Böschen, J. Söntgen, P. Wehling). Since 2007, she has been working in the area “Governance of Controversial Technologies” at the ITA.
In 2010, she was visiting scholar to the London School of Economics’ Centre for the Analysis of Risk and Regulation (CARR). In 2011/12 she did research for the project THCL at the University of Hamburg’s BIOGUM (director: R. Kollek). In 2016, she held a guest professorship at the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University of Vienna.
Karen Kastenhofer’s work has been co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Research, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the City of Vienna. She is founding member of STS Austria (board member 2015-2020) and editorial board member of TATuP - Journal for Technology Assessment in Theory and Practice.
TA Projects
Selected Publications
Numerous peer-reviewed papers in international journals, like: Science, Technology, and Human Values; Ecological Economics; Futures; Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research; Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Poiesis & Praxis; GAIA; Technological Foresight and Social Change; TATuP - Journal for Technology Assessment in Theory and Practice; several edited volumes, book chapters and project reports.
Refereed Contributions
Refereed Contributions
- (2023). (Re-)connecting academia during a sudden, global crisis. Tatup - Technikfolgenabschätzung. Theorie Und Praxis, Potentials of TA in sudden and enduring crises, 17-23. doi:10.14512/tatup.32.2.17.
- (2023). “Should We Stay or Should We Go now?” Dis/Engaging with Emerging Technosciences. Science &Amp; Technology Studies, 2023, 23. doi:10.23987/sts.113479.
- (2023). "Are You a TA Practitioner, Then?" – Identity Constructions in Post-Normal Science. Minerva, 61, 93-115. doi:10.1007/s11024-022-09480-x.
- (2022). Beyond Scientificity: Extensions and Diffractions in Post-Normal Science’s Ethos. Serendipities, 6, 21-41. Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/0xc1aa5576_0x003de473.pdf.
- (2022). Natural Sciences in Academic Vienna in the 1990s: From “[Peripheral] Outpost Near the Iron Curtain” to “Central Hub”. Studia Historiae Scientiarum, 21, 515-552. doi:10.4467/2543702XSHS.22.016.15982.
- (2021). The seamless web of next generation sequencing and Covid-19. Tatup - Journal For Technology Assessment In Theory And Practice, 18-23. Retrieved from https://www.tatup.de/index.php/tatup/article/view/6894/11612.
- (2021). Making Sense of Community and Identity in 21st Century Technoscience. In K. Kastenhofer & Molyneux-Hodgson, S. (Eds.), Community and Identity in Contemporary Technosciences. Cham: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-61728-8.
- (2019). „Wes Brot ich ess, des Lied ich sing”? TA und ihre Auftraggeber. Tatup – Zeitschrift Für Technikfolgenabschätzung In Theorie Und Praxis, 28, 33-38. doi:10.14512/tatup.28.1.33.
- (2019). Policy advice in technology assessment: shifting roles, principles and boundaries. Technological Forecasting &Amp; Social Change, 32-41. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162518300325.WebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
Over past decades, the notion of policy advice in technology assessment (TA) has widened, going beyond traditional advice in the form of expert opinions by adding a broad range of brokerage activities. Concomitantly, the roles of scientific policy advisors have diversified.Based on an empirical study of advisory practices at the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, we ask which advisory roles TA practitioners adopt. Our study shows that practitioners take up multiple roles: the decisionist advisor, the deliberative practitioner, the governance facilitator, the engaged academic, and the agenda-setter. These roles vary, inter alia, in the dominant modes of policy advice and the aspired function in politics and society and correlate with specific project and advisory constellations but also with paradigmatic beliefs of TA practitioners. Our analysis further exemplifies how these roles differ in a) the reference to and interpretation of core principles such as scientificity, neutrality and relevance and b) their strategies of managing the boundary between science and politics. Thus, the article goes beyond the mere statement “TA has politics” by illustrating how the politics of TA manifests in distinct ways in different roles of TA practitioners in policy advice.
- (2017). Systems Biology: Science or Technoscience?. In S. E. Green (Ed.), Philosophy of Systems Biology: Perspectives from Scientists and Philosophers (pp. 157-167). Cham: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47000-9_15.
- (2016). Biología de sistemas y biología sintética como tecnociencias emergentes / Systems and synthetic biology as emerging technosciences. Isegoría – Revista De Filosofía Moral Y Política, 529-550. doi:10.3989/isegoria.2016.055.07.
- (2016). Schlaue Gedanken zu smarter Technik, Konferenzbericht von der TA16. Tatup - Zeitschrift Für Technikfolgenabschätzung In Theorie Und Praxis, 25, 79-86. doi:10.14512/tatup.25.2.91.
- (2015). Die Rekonstruktion idealtypischer Nichtwissenskulturen: Beispiele aus der Risikoforschung zu Grüner Gentechnik und Mobilfunk. In P. Wehling & Böschen, S. (Eds.), Nichtwissenskulturen und Nichtwissensdiskurse. Über den Umgang mit Nichtwissen in Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit (pp. 63-117). Baden-Baden: Nomos..
- (2013). Two sides of the same coin? The (techno)epistemic cultures of systems and synthetic biology. Studies In History And Philosophy Of Biological And Biomedical Sciences, 44, 130-140. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369848613000228.WebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
Systems and synthetic biology both emerged around the turn of this century as labels for new research approaches. Although their disciplinary status as well as their relation to each other is rarely discussed in depth, now and again the idea is invoked that both approaches represent ‘two sides of the same coin’. The following paper focuses on this general notion and compares it with empirical findings concerning the epistemic cultures prevalent in the two contexts. Drawing on interviews with researchers from both fields, on participatory observation in conferences and courses and on documentary analysis, this paper delineates differences and similarities, incompatibilities and blurred boundaries. By reconstructing systems and synthetic biology’s epistemic cultures, this paper argues that they represent two ‘communities of vision’, encompassing heterogeneous practices. Understanding the relation of the respective visions of understanding nature and engineering life is seen as indispensible for the characterisation of (techno)science in more general terms. Depending on the conceptualisation of understanding and construction (or: science and engineering), related practices such as in silico modelling for enhancing understanding or enabling engineering can either be seen as incommensurable or ‘two sides of one coin’.
- (2013). Synthetic biology as understanding, control, construction and creation? Techno-epistemic and socio-political implications of different stances in talking and doing technoscience. Futures, 48, 13-22. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016328713000256.WebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
Systems biology and synthetic biology are said to represent ‘two sides of the same coin,’ with systems biology focussing on understanding and synthetic biology on construction. This notion is based on the implicit assumption that understanding and construction (or science and engineering) are, in themselves, ‘two sides of the same coin.’ Moreover, synthetic biology has been framed as an approach that encompasses understanding as well as control, construction, and creation. In the’ talking’ and ‘doing’ of synthetic biology, one can discern a contemplative, interventionist, constructionist, and creationist stance. It is the aim of this paper to illustrate these stances in detail and to discuss more generally their techno-epistemic and socio-political implications.
- (2011). Technoscientia est Potentia? Contemplative, interventionist, constructionist and creationist idea(l)s in technoscience. Poiesis &Amp; Praxis [Online First: 30/11/2011], 8, 125-149. doi:10.1007/s10202-011-0101-2.DOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
Within the realm of nano-, bio-, info- and cogno- (or NBIC) technosciences, the ‘power to change the world’ is often invoked. One could dismiss such formulations as ‘purely rhetorical’, interpret them as rhetorical and self-fulfilling or view them as an adequate depiction of one of the fundamental characteristics of technoscience. In the latter case, a very specific nexus between science and technology, or, the epistemic and the constructionist realm is envisioned. The following paper focuses on this nexus drawing on theoretical conceptions as well as empirical material. It presents an overview of different technoscientific ways to ‘change the world’—via contemplation and representation, intervention and control, engineering, construction and creation. It further argues that the hybrid character of technoscience makes it difficult (if not impossible) to separate knowledge production from real world interventions and challenges current science and technology policy approaches in fundamental ways.
- (2011). On intervention, construction and creation: power and knowledge in technoscience and late-modern technology. In T. Zülsdorf, Coenen, C., Ferrari, A., Fiedeler, U., Milburn, C., & Wienroth, M. (Eds.), Quantum Engagements – Social Reflections of Nanoscience and Emerging Technologies (pp. 177-193). Heidelberg: Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft AKA..RISENWBIB Abstract
This paper addresses the new (techno-) sciences’ power “to change the world.” It refers to Bacon’s program to combine “light-bearing” and “fruitbearing” in scientific research and traces this program in current scientific contexts, especially nanotechnoscience and synthetic biology. To allow for a more differentiated analysis, three modes of power are discerned: interventionist, constructionist and creationist power. Against this background, the paper describes the emergence of a late-modern technology that relates to a convergence of biology, physics and engineering as well as a distinct (techno-)science-power constellation. The conclusion calls for a technoscience assessment that goes beyond traditional technology assessment.
- (2011). Risk assessment of emerging technologies and post-normal science. Science, Technology &Amp; Human Values, 36 (3), 287-306. Retrieved from http://sth.sagepub.com/content/36/3/307.short.WebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
Kastenhofer, K., 2011, Risk assessment of emerging technologies and post-normal science. Science, Technology, and Human Values, 36(3), 287-306
Post-Normal Science (PNS) as a theory links epistemology and governance. It comprises not only a focus on problem situations where facts are uncertain, values in dispute, stakes high and decisions urgent, but also tries to develop epistemic approaches that allow for sound scientific answers. This paper addresses major epistemological challenges within a typical ‘wicked problem situation’, i.e., risk assessment of emerging technologies. Such challenges include (a) epistemological problems intrinsic to the task of proving the absence of risk, (b) problems related to the multi-sited production of evidence and the multitude of epistemic cultures involved, (c) the incompatibility of the various implicit objectives and (d) the complex actor constellations, that shape not only the way scientific knowledge is translated into action, but also which kind of knowledge is produced and which experts are listened to. To illustrate and discuss these characteristics, the paper draws on an empirical study of risk research in the fields of agri-biotechnology and telecommunication technology in Germany. It concludes that although some aspects of PNS are already part of current epistemic practices in these fields, a state of ‘functional post-normality’ depends upon a meaningful co-evolution between post-normal science and post-normal governance that has not yet been achieved. - (2011). Sustaining sustainability science: The role of established inter-disciplines. Ecological Economics, 70/4, 835-843. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.12.008.DOIWebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
The establishment of new interdisciplinary fields such as ecological economics, human ecology or technology assessment can be interpreted as a logical consequence of striving for new sustainability sciences that address current global, multi-dimensional and multi-scale challenges. They set out to bridge the gap between the natural and the social sphere, between scientific analysis and societal action. This papers aims at re-assessing the contribution of established inter-disciplines to sustainable development. Journal articles of ecological economics, technology assessment and science and technology studies are analysed and compared along several proposed features of sustainability science. The results converge in two crucial aspects. (1) Concise societal or political recommendations are not part of present day 'normal science', be it a disciplinary or an explicitly interdisciplinary research context. (2) Participatory exercises are rarely applied as a socio-politically embedded practice, despite a high interest in such exercises as an object of study and discussion.
- (2010). Antizipierte Technikkontroversen als Governance-Problem. In E. Grießler & Rohracher, H. (Eds.), ÖGZ (Tran.), Genomforschung – Politik – Gesellschaft: Perspektiven auf ethische, rechtliche und soziale Aspekte der Genomforschung (Österr. Zeitschrift für Soziologie – Sonderhefte, Bd. 8) (pp. 69-98). Wiesbaden: VS. Retrieved from http://www.springerlink.com/content/v4000789630j3g23/.
Articles/Book contributions
Articles/Book contributions
- (2021). COVID-19 – Voices from academia (ITA-manu:script 21-02). doi:10.1553/ITA-ms-21-02.
- (2020). Emergierende Technowissenschaften - Am Beispiel von Systembiologie und Synthetischer Biologie (ITA-manu:script 20-01). doi:10.1553/ITA-ms-20-01.DOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
Systems and synthetic biology can be understood as newly emerging technosciences. Both constitute phenomena shaped by promises and visions, a certain logic and function of labelling, specific forms of social organisation, an embedding in specific regimes of funding and innovation as well as a characteristic matrix of orientations within research practice. This general characterisation of systems and synthetic biology has fundamental consequences for scientific practice, its analysis and its governance
- (2019). Technology Assessment and Socio-Technical Futures – A Discussion Paper. In A. G. A. Lösch M. Meister (Ed.), Socio-Technical Futures Shaping the Present. Emprirical Examples and Analytical Challenges. (pp. 285-302). Wiesbaden: Springer. Retrieved from https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783658271541.
- (2019). Nichtwissens-Konstellationen in unterschiedlichen Wissenschaftskulturen der Natur- und Technikwissenschaften. In C. Thim-Mabrey & Brack, M. (Eds.), Verschiedene Rationalitäten im Diskurs von Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft? (pp. 197-227). Books on Demand..
- (2018). Community and identity in contemporary technosciences: conceptual issues and empirical change. Easst Review, 37, 32-35..
- (2018). Vom Wissen zum Können, vom Lehren zum Forschen? Der Wandel biologischer Wissenschaftskultur am Universitätsstandort Wien (ITA-manu:script 18-01). doi:10.1553/ITA-ms-18-01.
- (2016). Technikfolgenabschätzung von soziotechnischen Zukünften. Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-papers/loesch-et-al-2016-technikfolgenabschaetzung-von-soziotechnischen-zukuenften.pdf.
- (2016). Transhumanismus und Neuroenhancement: technowissenschaftliche Visionen als Herausforderung für die Technikfolgenabschätzung. Fiff-Kommunikation, 52-56. Retrieved from https://www.fiff.de/publikationen/fiff-kommunikation/fk-2016/fk-2016-2/fk-2016-2-content/fk-2-16-p52.pdf.
- (2015). Spekulative Verantwortung. Rolle und Praxis von TA am Beispiel von 'Neuro-Enhancement: Responsible Research and Innovation'. In A. Bogner, Decker, M., & Sotoudeh, M. (Eds.), Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse (ITAS) (Tran.), Responsible Innovation – Neue Impulse für die Technikfolgenabschätzung? (pp. 349-356). Baden-Baden: Nomos/edition sigma..
- (2015). Legitimation und Emanzipation im multidisziplinären Fächerkanon. Erwägen – Wissen – Ethik, 26, 41-43. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283634756_Legitimation_und_Emanzipation_im_multidisziplinaren_Facherkanon.
- (2014). Vom "guten Leben" mit neuen Technologien: Technikfolgenabschätzung als Lernexperiment. In S. ; B. Bellucci Stefan, Decker, M., Nentwich, M., Rey, L., & Sotoudeh, M. (Eds.), Technikfolgenabschätzung im politischen System. Zwischen Konfliktbewältigung und Technologiegestaltung (pp. 75-82). Berlin: Edition Sigma..
- (2013). The Power of Framing in Technology Governance: The Case of Biotechnologies (ITA-manu:script 13-01). doi:10.1553/ITA-ms-13-01.DOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
In past technology controversies, aspects such as risk or ethics have played a major role, apart from economic arguments. Public debates on agricultural biotechnology or biomedicine differed in the dominant aspect they addressed, respectively. This article specifies such aspects as discursive frames being tacit agreements over what is relevant and which arguments count. It investigates the role of frames in past debates and the relation between frames and issues relevant for technology governance such as policy advice, public participation and the political legitimation of decisions. For a newly emerging technology such as synthetic biology, the framing of a debate to come is often expected to follow patterns known from previous debates, and to influence governance in a foreseeable way. However, new frames might emerge that could change both the debate on and the governance of emerging technologies.
- (2013). Technikgeschichte als analytische Ressource für das Verständnis gegenwärtiger Technowissenschaft. Erwägen – Wissen – Ethik, 25, 553-556..
- (2013). Die Governance neuer Technowissenschaften zwischen Risiko- und Ethik-Frame. In A. Bogner (Ed.), Ethisierung der Technik - Technisierung der Ethik (pp. 69-94). Baden-Baden: Nomos..
- (2012). Vom "guten Leben" mit neuen Technologien: Technikfolgenabschätzung als Lernexperiment. In D. Pfabigan & Zelger, S. (Eds.), Mehr als Ethik – Reden über Körper und Gesundheitsnormen im Unterricht (pp. 155-168). facultas.wuv..
- (2012). Old problems, new directions and upcoming requirements in participatory technology assessment. Poiesis &Amp; Praxis, 9, 1-5..
- (2011). Probing technoscience. Poiesis &Amp; Praxis, 8, 61-65. doi:10.1007/s10202-011-0103-0.
- (2011). Systembiologie: Implikationen für Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Technikfolgenabschätzung – Theorie Und Praxis, 20 (1), 60-64. Retrieved from http://www.tatup-journal.de/tatup111_koua11a.php.WebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
Die Systembiologie zielt darauf ab, biologische Prozesse und Organismen in ihrer Gesamtheit zu verstehen. Theoretisch und forschungspraktisch werden entsprechende Ansätze seit knapp zwei Jahrzehnten verfolgt. Als Weiterführung der Genomforschung haben sie bereits viele Bereiche der biomedizinischen Forschung durchdrungen. Allerdings ist bisher wenig über die weiterreichende Bedeutung systemorientierter Ansätze für die modernen Lebenswissenschaften bekannt. Auch ihre normativen, sozialen und rechtlichen Implikationen sind weitgehend unerforscht. Dieser Artikel beschreibt Hintergrund, Ziele und Forschungsstrategie eines binationalen Verbundprojekts, das die Systembiologie in Deutschland und Österreich aus Perspektive der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung empirisch untersucht. Partner sind der Forschungsschwerpunkt Biotechnik, Gesellschaft und Umwelt (BIOGUM) der Universität Hamburg und das Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung (ITA) der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien.
- (2010). Technoscience. Encyclopedia Of Nanoscience And Society..
- (2010). Engineering of Living Artefacts: Synthetic Biology (IP/A/STOA/FWC-2008-96/LOT6/SC1). In Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) (Ed.), Making Perfect Life – Bio-Engineering (in) the 21st Century; Interim Study/Monitoring Report; im Auftrag von: Europäisches Parlament (pp. 11-50). Brüssel..RISENWBIB Abstract
This is one of four sections of the Project Report on “Making Perfect Life?”, carried out on behalf of STOA. It describes the framing of the field of Synthetic Biology and its scientific-technological context, describes how particular visions guide the field and flags up streams of development. It investigates the underlying engineering perspective as well as the problem of fulfilling promises, and it defines novelty in the sense of ‘disruptiveness’, providing an overview over major projects in Europe. Ontological and ethical aspects and implications such as risk mitigation, benefit distribution and governance are discussed, as well as conceptualisations of living machines and artificial life.
Books/Editorships
Books/Editorships
- (2021). Community and Identity in Contemporary Technosciences (p. 315). Cham: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-61728-8.
- (2011). Poiesis & Praxis – Special Issue (8/2-3): Probing Technoscience. (C. F. Gethmann, Tran.), Probing Technoscience (p. 106). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer..
- (2010). Special Issue: Technoscience and Technology Assessment. (C. F. Gethmann, Tran.), Poiesis & Praxis (p. 150). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Verlag. doi:10.1007/s10202-010-0080-8.
- (2010). Inter- und Transdisziplinarität im Wandel? Neue Perspektiven auf problemorientierte Forschung und Politikberatung. (A. M. Bora S. Reinhardt, Tran.), Inter- und Transdisziplinarität im Wandel? Neue Perspektiven auf problemorientierte Forschung und Politikberatung (p. 270). Baden-Baden: Nomos. doi:10.5771/9783845221373.DOIWebsiteRISENWBIB Abstract
Inter- und Transdisziplinarität wurden einstmals dem Randbereich wissenschaftlicher Praxis zugerechnet. Heute gelten sie als Normalfall, sowohl im Forschungsbetrieb wie auch in der wissenschaftlichen Politikberatung. Beispiele für diesen Wandel finden sich in der Nachhaltigkeits- und Sicherheitsforschung, der Technikfolgenabschätzung und der Kommissionsethik. Der Fokus des Bandes liegt auf der empirischen Untersuchung dieser Praxisfelder aus der Perspektive der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung. Im Vordergrund steht die kritische Analyse aktueller Potenziale und Probleme von Wissenschaft jenseits disziplinärer Grenzen.
Research Reports
Research Reports
- (2020). 5G-Mobilfunk und Gesundheit (p. 130). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ITA-pb-ITA-AIT-11.
- (2018). Pol[ITA] – Politikberatung am ITA. Endbericht (p. 221). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ita-pb-polita.
- (2012). Systems Biology in Austria 2011 – The Establishment of a New Field in a National Context (p. 108). Wien. doi:/10.1553/ITA-pb-c28.DOIWebsiteDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
This report is embedded in the larger research project ‘Towards a Holistic Conception of Life? Epistemic Presumptions and Socio-Cultural Implications of Systems Biology’, conducted jointly by the Institute of Technology Assessment at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Research Centre for Biotechnology, Society, and the Environment (FSP BIOGUM) at the University of Hamburg.
It gives a first overview of the state of establishment and institutionalisation of systems biology in Austria in 2011. It is based upon a methodical investigation of scientists, institutions, research projects, university courses and publications making use of the term ‘systems biology’ in this national context and puts an emphasis on the completeness and reproducibility of the reported results. The most relevant institutions are enlisted along three categories and shortly characterised.
Overall, the state of establishment of systems biology is much less advanced than in Germany, the United Kingdom or Switzerland. It takes place on a smaller scale and is driven by a more cautious attitude. Also, it takes place in a more diverse and fragmented mode. Only a few, small institutes carry the label in their name and systems biology is (at least as a label) almost absent in university curricula.
The rightful attribution or meaning of the label ‘systems biology’ is not questioned at this point; rather, different configurations of doing systems biology are addressed tentatively by co-authorship analyses, discipline-based categorisations, historical timelines and geographical analyses. Moreover, general problems relating to such an early onwards assessment of the state of a new scientific field are discussed in the introduction. - (2007). Schlussbericht des Projektes "Nichtwissenskulturen – Analysen zum Umgang mit Nichtwissen im Spannungsfeld von epistemischen Kulturen und gesellschaftlichen Gestaltungsöffentlichkeiten" (p. 79). Augsburg..
Conference Papers/Speeches
Conference Papers/Speeches
-
29/11/2023
, ÖAW, Wien
Kastenhofer, Karen
From a normal and a post-normal-science ethos to a survival science ethos?
STS Austria Conference on “Activism, Community and the Politics of STS”
Keynote -
18/10/2023
, ÖAW, Wien
Kastenhofer, Karen
Epistemic, social, cultural and regulatory implications of technoscientific convergence
Young Academy of Sciences Conference on "Convergence? Interfaces of the Digital and the Living"
Keynote -
03/05/2023
, Wien
Kastenhofer, Karen
Wissenschaft zwischen Berufung, Beruf und Kennzahl
BMBWF Workshop "Was Wissen schafft"
Keynote -
11/04/2023
, online
Kastenhofer, Karen Vermeulen, Niki
The impact of technoscientific hype cycles on epistemic communities: short term, middle term, long term
Biological Engineering Collaboratory (BEC) seminar series
Other Invited Lecture -
12/12/2022
, Wien, online
Kastenhofer, Karen
Einblick in die gelebte Praxis der Beurteilung von wissenschaftlicher Leistung aus der Perspektive von Forschenden
BMBWF Seminar "Informationsveranstaltung zu Bewertungsschemata in Wissenschaft und Forschung"
Other Invited Lecture -
25/11/2022
, Berlin
Kastenhofer, Karen
The role of bodily discomfort in the regulatory discourse on 5G electromagnetic fields
Electromagnetic Waves Matter: Disturbing Air, Bodies, and Infrastructure
Other Invited Lecture -
30/09/2022
, Wien
Kastenhofer, Karen
Welche Chancen bietet die Pandemie?
Clemens von Pirquet Symposium „Covid-19 Pandemie und das Impfwesen einst und heute“
Other Invited Lecture -
01/06/2022
, Tulln
Kastenhofer, Karen
Globale Expert*innenmeinungen zur COVID-Pandemie – ein transdisziplinärer Ansatz
7. EUFEP Kongress - Europäisches Forum für evidenzbasierte Medizin
Keynote -
27/05/2022
, Düsseldorf/online
Kastenhofer, Karen
Der Topos der Wissenschafts- und Technikfeindlichkeit in der Pandemie
Kolloquium des Instituts für Ethik und Geschichte der Medizin
Other Lecture -
02/05/2022
, Wien
Kastenhofer, Karen
Gibt es "gute" und "böse" Technologien?
Schule Zeltgasse / Hegelgasse 14
Other Lecture -
27/04/2022
, Düsseldorf (online)
Kastenhofer, Karen
Der Topos der Wissenschafts- und Technikfeindlichkeit in der Pandemie
Kolloquium des Instituts für Ethik und Geschichte der Medizin
Other Invited Lecture -
12/11/2021
, Melbourne / Online
Kastenhofer, Karen Friesacher, Hannah Rosa Reich, Alexander Capari, Leo
COVID-19 – Voices from Academia
Recovery, reconfiguration, and repair. Mobilising the social sciences and humanities for a post-pandemic world
Other Lecture -
09/10/2021
, Toronto / Online
Kastenhofer, Karen
Struggles for power, legitimacy and control at a transdisciplinary institute
4S 2021 "Good Relations Practices and Methods in Unequal and Uncertain Worlds"
Other Lecture -
17/06/2021
, Trieste / Online
Kastenhofer, Karen
Fighting Procrustes: moments of resistance in academic minds, identities and career choices
STS Italia 2021
Other Lecture -
04/11/2019
, Bratislava
Kastenhofer, Karen
Value meets CRISPR: from value regimes of actions-in-context to TA diplomacy
4th European Technology Assessment Conference
Other Lecture -
08/07/2019
, Oslo
Kastenhofer, K., Vermeulen, N
Should we stay or should we go now? Introduction to an open workshop with examples from the histories, philosophies, and sociologies of systems biology
ISHPSSB conference
Other Lecture -
27/05/2019
, Wien
Torgersen, Helge Kastenhofer, Karen
Die Geister die ich rief .... TA, Missionsorientierung und TechnoWissenschaft
TA19
Other Lecture -
15/09/2018
, University College London
Kastenhofer, Karen
The biology that was? Generational patterns as a medium of disunity
"Unity and Disunity" – Biennial Conference 2018
Other Lecture -
27/07/2018
, Lancaster
Bauer, Anja Kastenhofer, Karen
Identity formation and transformation in transdisciplinary scholarship: The Case of Technology Assessment
EASST2018: Meetings – Making Science, Technology and Society together
Other Lecture -
16/06/2018
, Padua
Kastenhofer, Karen
The fate of locality and top/bottom ontologies under technoscientific conditions
STS Italia
Other Lecture
Short Articles
Short Articles
- (2022). What opportunities does this pandemic offer? ITA-Dossier No 59en (March 2022; Author: Karen Kastenhofer). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-059en.
- (2021). Editorial. Tatup - Journal For Technology Assessment In Theory And Practice, 3. Retrieved from https://tatup.de/index.php/tatup/article/download/6922/11685/12369.
- (2021). Welche Chancen bietet die Pandemie? ITA-Dossier Nr. 59 (Dezember 2021; Autorin: Karen Kastenhofer). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-059.
- (2020). The new Technosciences ITA-Dossier no. 49en (Oktober 2020; Authors: Karen Kastenhofer). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-049en.
- (2020). Die neuen TechnoWissenschaften ITA-Dossier Nr. 49 (September 2020; AutorInnen: Karen Kastenhofer). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-049.
- (2020). Factcheck 5G & Health ITA-Dossier no. 47 (April 2020; AutorInnen: Karen Kastenhofer, Michael Nentwich). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-047en.DOIDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
-> Electromagnetic fields have already been considered a potential health risk with previous generations of mobile radio communication. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified mobile phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic”. To this day, experts continue to discuss this topic with much controversy. -> 5G, the latest generation of mobile phone networks, promises to transmit larger amounts of data with lower latency. Industry 4.0, augmented reality games or the Internet of things rely on such higher performance. -> The assessment of risks and gaps of knowledge enables precautionary regulation and a prudent approach to 5G
- (2020). #CoronaAlltag: Die digitale Seite der Krise. Apa Natur &Amp; Technik. Retrieved from https://science.apa.at/power-search/1744519471453902932.
- (2020). Faktencheck 5G & Gesundheit. ITA-Dossier Nr. 47 (März 2020; AutorInnen: Karen Kastenhofer, Michael Nentwich). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-047.
- (2020). 5G-Mobilfunk und Gesundheit. Wien. Retrieved from https://fachinfos.parlament.gv.at/politikfelder/arbeit-soziales/5g-mobilfunk-und-gesundheit/.
- (2018). Beratungspraxis in der TA. Tatup – Technikfolgenabschätzung In Theorie Und Praxis, 27, 80. Retrieved from http://www.tatup.de/index.php/tatup/article/view/106/141.
- (2016). Gene editing – new technology, old risks? ITA-Dossier no. 21en (May 2016; Authors: Helge Torgersen, Karen Kastenhofer). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-021en.DOIDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
-> Thanks to a new technology, genetic alterations of organisms are now simpler, more precise and quicker than before.
-> Taboos such as human germ line intervention are up for discussion again as are the foundations of how genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are regulated.
-> In the future, genetic engineering might become more ubiquitous, which could bear potential for conflict whilst the need to reach political decisions is becoming more urgent. - (2016). Genkorrekturen – neue Technik, altes Risiko? ITA-Dossier Nr. 21 (Mai 2016; AutorInnen: Helge Torgersen, Karen Kastenhofer). Wien. doi:10.1553/ita-doss-021.DOIDownloadRISENWBIB Abstract
-> Eine neue Methode macht gentechnische Veränderungen einfacher, präziser und schneller.
-> Tabus wie der Eingriff in die menschliche Keimbahn stehen ebenso zur Debatte wie die Grundlage für die Regulierung von gentechnisch veränderten Organismen.
-> Gentechnik könnte in Zukunft eine viel weitere Verbreitung finden; das birgt Zündstoff und der Druck, politische Entscheidungen zu treffen, wächst.
AutorInnen: Helge Torgersen, Karen Kastenhofer - (2012). Qualitätssicherung und Verantwortung in den Technowissenschaften. Ita-Newsletter, 7 f.Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0312.pdf#7.
- (2011). Mit der Systembiologie im Dialog. Ita-Newsletter, 3 f.Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0911.pdf#3.
- (2011). Wie "neu" ist Synthetische Biologie?. Ita-Newsletter, 18. Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0611.pdf#18.
- (2011). Partizipation in Technikfragen – Legitime Hoffnung oder bloße Illusion? Eine Nachlese der TA'11. Ita-Newsletter, 2-11. Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0611.pdf#2.
- (2010). Interdisziplinarität und Technowissenschaft. Ita-Newsletter, 12 f.Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL1210.pdf#12.
- (2010). Vom Umgang mit den neuen Technowissenschaften. Ita-Newsletter, 7 f.Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0910.pdf#7.
- (2010). TA'10: Die Jubiläumskonferenz zur Ethisierung der Technik. Ita-Newsletter, 2-9. Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0610.pdf#2.
- (2010). Systembiologie: Der ganzheitliche Ansatz in den neuen Lebenswissenschaften. Ita-Newsletter, 4 f.Retrieved from https://epub.oeaw.ac.at/ita/ita-newsletter/NL0310.pdf#4.
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
- (2017). Bridging gaps and squaring circles: attempts at a cross-European technology assessment [Review of: Lars Klüver, Rasmus Øjvind Nielsen and Marie Louise Jorgensen (eds.), 2016, Policy-Oriented Technology Assessment Across Europe: Expanding Capacities; Basingstoke/UK: Palgrave Macmillan]. Science And Public Policy, 44, 728-729. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/spp/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/scipol/scx026/3858430/Bridging-gaps-and-squaring-circles-attempts-at-a.
- (2013). Ecological Economics and the role of participation within Ecological Economics – a comparison via network analysis of keywords. In: Book of Abstracts – ESEE 2013 (Ecological Economics and Institutional Dynamics – 10th biennal conference of the European Society for Ecological Economics; 21.06.2013, Lille), S. 589. Retrieved from http://esee2013.sciencesconf.org/conference/esee2013/boa_en.pdf.
Contact
Tel.: +43 (0)1 515 81-6580
Fax: (+43-1-) 515 81-6570
Bäckerstraße 13, 1010 Vienna
kkast(at)oeaw.ac.at
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