Which role and responsibility do science and research have in a changing geopolitical environment? How can and should security-related research be conducted at universities in the future? And how can the peace orientation of universities be reconciled with changing security-political requirements?
These questions were the focus of the public university conference “Sicherheit, Wissenschaft, Verantwortung – Forschung in Konflikt- und Krisenzeiten,” which PRIF hosted in Darmstadt on December 8. In panel discussions and workshops, participants explored different perspectives on the role and responsibility of science and research in the context of the “Zeitenwende.”
In addition to more than 70 representatives from various universities in Hesse, Timon Gremmels, Hesse's Minister of State for Science and Research, Art, and Culture, was also present. In his welcoming address, he emphasized the social responsibility of universities and research in times of crisis as well as the importance of their independence. He answered participants' questions about the political handling of new issues relating to research security and security-relevant research.
After Prof. Dr. Christopher Daase (Deputy Executive Director, PRIF) welcomed the participants, the first panel, moderated by Prof. Dr. Nicole Deitelhoff (Executive Director, PRIF), examined the extent to which the changed geopolitical situation also affects academic life: While Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie (Director of the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies – CASSIS, University of Bonn) and Prof. Dr. Dr. Michael Lauster (RWTH Aachen / Fraunhofer INT) outlined current challenges for science and research from the perspective of strategy and applied research, Prof. Dr. Tanja Brühl (President, TU Darmstadt) and Dr. Andreas Keller (Member of the Executive Board, GEW) contextualized the resulting debates and possible consequences from the perspective of university management and labor unions.
In the subsequent workshops, participants exchanged ideas in small working groups on various issues, such as civility and peace orientation (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, University of Hamburg and board member of “NatWiss – Responsibility for Peace and Sustainability”), research security (Peter R. Schreiner, Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry, JLU Giessen), academic freedom (Dr. Annette Barkhaus, Deputy Head of the Research Department, German Council of Science and Humanities), and the challenges of security and defense research (Prof. Dr. Ursula Birsl, Chair of the Commission on Research and Responsibility, University of Marburg).
In a concluding panel discussion, the central points of discussion and results from the workshops were compiled and reflected upon – in particular in light of possible impulses for the further debate on security-related research, research security, and peace orientation in Hesse.
The conference was part of the Dialogue Forum “Security Research and Civil Clause.” The dialogue process is planned and organized by PRIF and funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Art, and Culture (HMWK). The conference program can be viewed on the event page.
Photos: Uwe Dettmar / All Rights Reserved.