Research

Our common task

The tasks of the research centre include in particular the research of ecological, social, economic, political, legal and ethical consequences resulting from the development of molecular biology and biotechnology as well as the prerequisites for their compatibility with the objectives of the protection of human dignity, the preservation of the human environment and the enhancement of general societal benefit. For this purpose, concepts of technological impact assessment and evaluation (TA) are further developed in a problem-oriented manner and implemented in empirical work.

Our common goal

In research and teaching, the Research Centre orientates itself to the substantiation and conveyance of the general principle of sustainability. Because the framework conditions of the development, utilization and diffusion of modern biotechnology in agriculture and medicine are very different and both their implications as well as their scope for design are characterized by these framework conditions, concepts and methods have to be adapted to these area-specific characteristics. That is the reason why each of these research groups take their own concept as a basis for their work.