Welcome to the KIT-Center Humans and Technology
Technology changes our lives, directly and indirectly. As a central institution of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the KIT-Center Humans and Technology (H&T) offers orientation in these complex developments.
We combine research perspectives on innovations in their technological, ecological, economic, and social contexts and provide impulses for future topics at interdisciplinary interfaces. In this way, we develop relevant knowledge and practical concepts - with actors from science, business, education, politics and civil society - to critically reflect on, understand and responsibly shape innovation and transformation processes.
On April 25 and 26, the MobiLab will be stationed on the Kulturplatz in front of the district administration office in Rastatt under the theme "Geothermie zum Anfassen und Mitreden". Scientists from the Institutes of Applied Geosciences (AGW) , Nuclear Waste Management (INE), Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) and the Center for Humans and Technology (MuT) will be inviting visitors to engage in dialogue on the topic of geothermal energy in the Upper Rhine region.
The MobiLab is being used in Rastatt at the invitation of the Upper Rhine Conference, whose Presidium, chaired by District President Sylvia M. Felder, is meeting at the same time in the Rastatt District Office
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Most visions of the future that we come across are either euphoric promises or drastic predictions of doom - and some are already a little dusty. With "Xtopias", we now have a proposal on how to put ambivalences, open questions, contradictions, and conflicting assessments at the center of interest. Is my utopia perhaps your dystopia? The now completed project "Urbane Xtopien - Freiräume der Zukunft" (Urban Xtopias - Free Spaces of the Future) has resulted in a toolbox that can be used to address key future issues in a serious and playful way at the same time, without falling into woodcut-like simplifications. The toolbox and supporting materials are available in German and English on the project website. The interdisciplinary project team included colleagues from the University of Kassel and the German Institute of Urban Affairs, from civil society groups such as Transition Town and Spirit of Football - and from the KIT-Center Humans and Technology.
Real-world Laboratories are currently very popular. Stemming from transformation-oriented sustainability research, they are used to testing innovative ideas under real-life conditions. In a special issue entitled "Impacts of Real-world Labs in Sustainability Transformations" of the journal GAIA, scientists present the current state of research on real-world labs. The special issue was edited by members of the "Network Real-world Labs for Sustainability", including several MuT colleagues. The starting point for the issue was the first conference of the network at KIT in 2022, which MuT supported. The full text is available open access here.
The KIT-Center for Humans and Technology (H&T) would like to thank Prof. Dr. Ingrid Ott for her tireless work as scientific spokesperson of H&T over the past 3 years. From March 1, 2024, Prof. Dr. Christof Weinhardt will take over as Spokesperson and will be actively supported by the two co-spokespersons Prof. Dr. Darko Jekauc and Prof. Dr. Daniel Lang. The entire H&T team is ready for new paths and challenges, invites all interested parties to enrich the center with ideas and commitment, and looks forward to joint projects and activities.
It's finally time again: from 1 to 5 July 2024, an interdisciplinary summer school will take place in San Sebastián, organized by ITAS and others. The event title is "The transformation challenge: Re-Thinking cultures of research" and (CuKnow) doctoral candidates can send their proposal to Bettina-Johanna Krings until January 15, 2024.
Program (PDF)
As researchers and teachers in science, CuKnow members face a wide range of tasks and challenges. Supported by a theater pedagogue and a talent coach, the participants received exciting impulses to strengthen their scientific personality over three days and learned how to deal confidently and flexibly with challenges in everyday scientific life.
If you have any questions, please contact Elisa Adams and Joana Kling.