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Technology assessment (TA) is committed to impartial expertise as well as basic democratic values. And beyond that? What is the normative framework within which TA operates? Is it always the same or does it differ depending on the topic, societal task or country and political culture? How should TA deal with both normative claims from outside and those that originate from within TA itself? In what ways can it identify and process normative claims, and how can and should TA position itself among conflicting political interests and divergent world views? Is ‘neutral’ expertise a help or a hindrance here, and can there (still) be such a thing at all? The authors of this volume attempt to answer such questions or at least to disentangle the problems that TA, with its evergrowing diversity of approaches, faces in times of increasing political and economic antagonism and accelerated technological development.

Dieses Buch bietet mittlerweile in dritter Auflage einen Überblick über klassische Gesellschaftsdiagnosen. Die Darstellung reicht von den Frühformen philosophischer Zeitdiagnostik bis hinauf zu soziologischen Entwürfen, die sich auf unsere gegenwärtige Gesellschaft beziehen.

Wissensgesellschaft, Risikogesellschaft, Sicherheitsgesellschaft – die Liste einprägsamer Etiketten, die ihre Gesellschaft auf den Begriff zu bringen beanspruchen, ist lang. Dieses Buch bietet mittlerweile in zweiter Auflage einen Überblick über klassische Gesellschaftsdiagnosen. Die Darstellung reicht von den Frühformen philosophischer Zeitdiagnostik bis hinauf zu soziologischen Entwürfen, die sich auf unsere gegenwärtige Gesellschaft beziehen.
Gelten sie zuweilen auch als etwas unsolide, so lässt diese Überblicksdarstellung ebenso den Reiz erkennen, der noch heute von Gesellschaftsdiagnosen ausgeht.

Quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly widespread in medicine and environmental research. Because of their specific optical characteristics, QDs can be detected by fluorescence analyses, even in complex media, such as environmental or tissue samples. Their unique properties make them useful for a variety of applications, such as for the use as fluorescent markers for cells, as contrast agents in deep tissue and tumour imaging, in biosensing or photodynamic therapy, and for targeted drug delivery. As a result, QDs could potentially be used as detectable and clearly identifiable “nanotracers” to mark or detect specific targets or to be able to draw general conclusions about the fate of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in environmentally relevant media, e.g. in wastewater. QDs mainly consist of metallic semiconductor compounds, such as cadmium selenide (CdSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), lead sulphide (PbS) or indium phosphide (InP), which can have toxic effects on cells and organisms. Research is therefore being conducted on non­toxic carbon­based QDs, amongst others. QDs are already being used in products, such as TV screens and novel solar cell technologies. However, with an increasing number of applications and thusan increase in production volumes, potential exposure is also intensifying. Consequently, risks to humans and the environment are increasing as accidental release and resulting negative effects cannot be ruled out. To date,however, only limited data exist on possible environmental and health risks.

-> Temporary housing as a topic in urban development has received very little attention so far. -> However, as a qualitative niche option, temporary forms of housing can certainly have an impact. -> Using the city of Vienna as an example, various scenarios and specific models have been developed and optimised with regard to their sustainability. -> In the future, strategic urban planning as well as real-world projects can build on these designs.

-> Temporary housing as a topic in urban development has received very little attention so far. -> However, as a qualitative niche option, temporary forms of housing can certainly have an impact. -> Using the city of Vienna as an example, various scenarios and specific models have been developed and optimised with regard to their sustainability. -> In the future, strategic urban planning as well as real-world projects can build on these designs.

-> Temporary housing as a topic in urban development has received very little attention so far. -> However, as a qualitative niche option, temporary forms of housing can certainly have an impact. -> Using the city of Vienna as an example, various scenarios and specific models have been developed and optimised with regard to their sustainability. -> In the future, strategic urban planning as well as real-world projects can build on these designs.

-> Temporary housing as a topic in urban development has received very little attention so far. -> However, as a qualitative niche option, temporary forms of housing can certainly have an impact. -> Using the city of Vienna as an example, various scenarios and specific models have been developed and optimised with regard to their sustainability. -> In the future, strategic urban planning as well as real-world projects can build on these designs.