1. Webinar
‘Facets
of
Science’
September
27,
2011
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
Moderator:
Dr.
Iris
Zink,
science
journalist
and
physicist
1

2. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
1
Our
guest
experts
today:
•
Prof.
Dr.
Jürgen
Margraf,
Humboldt
Professor,
Head
of
the
Department
of
clinical
psychology
and
psychotherapy,
Ruhr-­‐
Universität
Bochum
•
Dr.
Sandro
Gaycken,
InsBtute
of
Computer
Science,
Freie
Universität
Berlin
2

3. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
1
2
Structure
• IntroducBon
• Discussion
• What
are
the
experiences
in
your
countries?
• QuesBons
from
the
audience
• Group
forum:
Feedback
and
comments
• Preview:
Next
session
on
“Science
&
Development”
3

4. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
3
IntroducFon
• What
is
it
that
moBvates
us
to
explore
the
world?
• Humans
are
curious
and
always
like
to
know
more
about
everything.
New
technologies
yet
oUen
scare
us.
We
are
afraid
of
geneBc
research,
nuclear
fusion
and
cloud
compuBng.
• What
are
the
facets
between
curiosity
and
fear?
4

5. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
4
Discussion
• What
pushes
us
to
discover
new
technologies
and
what
stops
development?
5

6. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
5
Discussion
• What
is
the
aim
of
progress?
Why
are
we
pursuing
it?
• When
does
progress
go
wrong?
6

7. Research:
Benevolent
or
Dangerous?
„Bio“=good
„Gen“= bad

8. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
6
Discussion
• Are
we
afraid
of
the
wrong
things?
8

9. Risk
PercepBon:
Psychological
Rule
1
• Are
humans
raBonal
or
irraBonal?
• Answer:
We
possess
limited
raBonality

10. Risk
PercepBon:
Psychological
Rule
2
• We
underesBmate
common,
known,
voluntary
risks
• We
overesBmate
unusual,
unknown,
involuntary
risks
common,
unusual, known,
unknown, voluntary
involuntary

11. Special
Topics
• Children
as
emoBonal
topic
> Mental illness as stigmatized topic
> Genes as poison

12. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
7
Discussion
• What
are
the
projects
at
the
InsBtute
of
Computer
Science
?
12

13. UnrealisBc
CriBcisms
-­‐
Real
Problems
• Absorb
capacity
• May
influence
recruitment
• Change
of
recruitment
strategy
requires
addiBonal
funding
• ClarificaBon
of
legal
issues
requires
addiBonal
Bme
and
funds
• Internet
as
journalisBc
memory
(main
source
for
inquiries)
• Danger
for
future
research
• Unclear
jurisdicBon
threatens
feasibility

14. ProtecBon
Against
Erroneous
Responses:
Understanding
Risks
Correctly

15. Three
Levels
of
Dealing
with
Risks
Sociology Social value debate -
of Risk e.g., sustainability
Psychology Individual perception
of Risk of risk
Professional /
technical
analysis of risk
Professional
debate

16. WaiBng
for
bullets
to
come
closer?
Other strategies: Denial, distancing, keeping low profile ...

17. Neglected
QuesBon

18. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
8
Discussion
StaBsBcs,
databases,
etc.
Today,
our
life
is
full
of
staBsBcs,
but
do
they
always
help
us?
18

19. The
Individual
and
the
Media
Perception Evaluation Action Individual handling
of risks
Media serve as
„Fremdnützig“:
amplifier
successful „marketing“,
term suggests sellout and
external control

20. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
9
Discussion
• What
are
the
dark
sides
of
a
knowledgeable
society?
• Should
we
trust
experts?
• How
will
the
informaBon
society
develop?
20

21. „NaturromanBk“
• Stable
world
in
distant
past
> Disturbed by science and capitalism
(opening Pandora‘s box)
> Grave
consequences:
– Atomic bomb and
nuclear power
– Gene technology
and gene food
– Globalization etc.

22. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
11
What
are
the
experiences
in
your
countries?
QuesFons
from
the
audience
22

23. September
27,
2011
-­‐
Science
=
A
blessing
or
a
curse?
12
Feedback
on
this
session
Comments
and
quesFons
in
the
group
forum
Preview:
Session
on
“Science
&
Development”
(4
October)
23