Technology assessment (TFA, area of key competencies: 2 SWS, 3 CP)

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Main topic in winter semester 23/24: AI

This time, the main topics to be discussed will be the impact of the latest AI developments in the field of machine learning, large language models, current shortcomings and backgrounds as well as embodiment.

What does the future hold? What prospects do we have? How can we help decide and shape it?

What does the future hold? What prospects do we have? How can we help decide and shape it?

This seminar is aimed at students from the third semester onwards. In addition to preparing and giving a presentation, particular emphasis is placed on the description of technology and a critical discussion.

What happens to research and development results once they leave the walls of the laboratory? How is their use controlled? What is the responsibility of science, inventors and discoverers?

It has always been part of the self-image of engineers and scientists to deal with these questions and to find answers to them. Of course, this means that prospective engineers have to be confronted with these questions - and find their own way and approach.

Is it none of my business? In our field, there are certainly topics in research and development that have the potential for abuse and harm - and you may be working on them yourself without realizing it. But we must also not lose sight of developments that are not being pursued here. This seminar aims to sharpen your awareness of the problems, but also of the opportunities offered by technology and engineering, and to develop a critical and questioning approach to them.

The idea for this seminar arose from the discussion about the introduction of a civil clause at the University of Kassel and from the preliminary realization that a nice sentence in a PDF file might not be enough after all. Responsibility has to be lived and is laborious. But has no alternative! One of the few places where this word is really appropriate!

Organization

If possible, the topics will be distributed at the first meeting (depending on the number of participants). You are also welcome to suggest a topic yourself, but it should have something to do with our department (or at least STEM) in a narrower sense. In the second half of the lecture period, there will be an optional preparatory meeting to discuss the progress of your work. The actual seminar will take place towards the end of the lecture period or at the beginning of the semester break. Depending on the number of participants (up to 12), there will be 20-minute individual presentations followed by a discussion (approx. 10 minutes) or, if there are a very large number of participants (up to 20), a panel discussion with 5-8-minute thesis presentations and a joint discussion. In both cases, interested spectators will be allowed. Contributions from non-participants can also be included in a panel discussion; these do not need to be submitted and will not be assessed.

A written elaboration in a professional format must be handed in one week before the presentation. The corresponding set of slides must also be submitted as a PDF no later than the day before the presentation. The rules of good scientific work apply, without exception.

Details on the text (number of pages, font, file format) can be found in the menu on the left under the item Elaboration.

Attention: The key data previously given here (4-6 pages of continuous text, <=12pt, serif font, as PDF) unfortunately had to be changed! Please note the new requirements!

Possible topics

If you would like to suggest your own topic, please discuss this with us in good time! Your own topics are very welcome.

The distribution of topics takes place via the seminar moodle course, please register there as soon as possible.

References

Armin Grunwald: Technikfolgenabschätzung - eine Einführung, Edition Sigma (June 15, 2010), ISBN-10: 3894049502

Renn, Ortwin (1999), Methodische Vorgehensweisen in der Technikfolgenabschätzung. in: Bröchler, Stephan; Simonis, Georg; Sundermann, Karsten (eds.) (1999): Handbuch Technikfolgenabschätzung vol. 2 Berlin (edition sigma), pp. 609-616.

Michael Decker (editor), Armin Grunwald (editor), Martin Knapp (editor): Der Systemblick auf Innovation: Technikfolgenabschätzung in der Technikgestaltung, Edition Sigma; Edition: 1st, ed. (April 20, 2012), ISBN-10: 3894049464

A list of further literature can be found in the menu on the left or here, some of the titles mentioned there can also be used directly as a topic (by arrangement).