Visions of the future play a crucial role in social technology debates. Notions of the technical future express views over what kind of future social and technological reality is considered possible, more or less probable, desirable or undesirable. They consist of various forms such as forecasts, scenarios, roadmaps, visions or utopias. Some of them are designed by scientists, such as model-based scenarios, others are artistic designs such as literary or cinematic products of science fiction, and some are expectations or fears that are part of public communication via the mass media.
Many notions of the future are controversial. At the same time, they play a central role in various areas of society and decision-making processes. They shape the agenda of technical sciences and determine the structure of future technical systems and their conditions of use. In politics, they attract public funding or regulations in the case of negative notions of the future. But above all, those technical notions of the future are subject to societal discussions on opportunities and risks.
In his presentation, Prof. Grunwald will explain the concept of notions of the technical future using examples from the fields of energy and nanotechnology. Their potency – on them may depend acceptance of or resistance to new technologies – makes them highly relevant for technology assessment as a political and social guideline. Accordingly, Prof. Grunwald will present an approach how notions of the technical future can be used in this context for orientation purposes.
The event starts at 4:30 pm at Fraunhofer ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, Freiburg, Germany. All interested persons are invited.