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Fascinating in scientific terms, far advanced in technological, often controversial in societal. A great deal has already been said and published on this topic, ideas and facts have been discussed adversarially and mostly controversially. Genetic engineering as an example for many issues: lack of public dialogue, the possibilities and limitations of science communication, bottom-up engagement, the strategy and relative importance of multinational corporations, what politics can do, etc. Discussions are seldom about the available facts and findings in themselves but above all about how these are to be interpreted. How will the “uncertainty” inherent in natural sciences be interpreted? What significance is accorded to the absence of knowledge? Should the possible also constitute the allowable? Are there (societal) limits to the freedom of research? These conclusions and interpretations are of a strategic and/or political nature, in the end they cannot be answered by science.

Like genetic engineering, nano-technology offers the most various possibilities based on an exciting, as yet little understood sub-field of the natural sciences. And here too there is a gap between the technologically possible and/or its applications, on the one hand, and knowledge about the consequences and potential effects on the other. Evaluation research, science communication as well as political and public dialogue are as yet under-represented in Austria – but nonetheless necessary in order to deal sustainably (in economic, social and ecological terms) with the potential of this technology in the future.
more: science current

This issue confronts us daily and is ever more complicated. Which way are developments going? How much must one know to be able to make an informed decision? What does sustainability mean in this context? What is the background to the different food scandals? What role does genetic engineering play? Is there already food from cloned animals available? What labels provide information about what? What is the score with regard to organic food products? And what about enjoyment? Many questions that, depending on the target group, require up-to-date scientific, strategically helpful or understandably presented information.

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