Within the last years, the meaning of scientific knowledge in society has changed. The knowledge oriented self-conception of science as a place of contemplation, experimentation, and theorizing with no practical relevance in accordance with the ideal of ancient physics that has started its triumphal march from there, today, is found only partially in science. However, other scientific fields are integrated into society’s decision making processes and are changed by these. The background of this development is that during decision making- and policy-shaping processes knowledge - also needed for political opinion forming - is being retrieved.

Through large research programs and new forms of organization (e. g. Helmholtz association) new ways of scientific production are firmly institutionalized. Science is challenged to re-evaluate these scientific ways of production as well as to review them with regard to the question of how far basic research should and could also be societally relevant. Therefore, the achievement potentials of this “new” form of scientific knowledge must be reviewed with regard to their societal relevance and aligned with overriding ways of looking at the problem. Beside the production (1) of scientific knowledge, looking at the consumption (2) and at the transformation (3) of scientific knowledge could offer an analytical frame.

Relating dissertation projects:

• Dipl.-Ing. Christian Dieckhoff: Empirische Untersuchung der Entstehungsprozesse von Energieszenarien (2007-2010) (Empirical Analysis of the Construction Processes of Energy Scenarios); supervision and mentoring: Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwald (ITAS), Torsten Fleischer (ITAS)
• Dipl.-Pol. Simon Pfersdorf: Analyse der Wissenspolitik durch Diskurse am Beispiel der Nanotechnologie (Arbeitstitel) (2009-2012) (Analysis of knowledge policy by discourses on the example of nanotechnology – working title); supervision and mentoring: Prof. Reiner Keller (Universität Koblenz-Landau), Prof. Dr. Gotthard Bechmann (ITAS)
• Dipl.-Soz. Anna Schleisiek: Ökonomische Prinzipien und wissenschaftliche Praxis. Fallstudienbasierte Untersuchung von Materialforschungsgruppen (2010-2013) (Analysis of materials research groups based on case studies); supervision and mentoring: Bettina Krings (ITAS), Prof. Dr. Uwe Schimank (Universität Bremen)
• Dipl.-Sozialwissenschaftlerin Constanze Scherz: Wissenschaftliche Politikberatung im Wandel. Probleme, Herausforderungen und Lösungswege vor dem Hintergrund des Expertendilemmas (Scientific policy consulting in transition. Problems, challenges and potential solutions in view of the experts dilemma); supervision and mentoring: Prof. Dr. Gotthard Bechmann (ITAS), Prof. Dr. Ortwin Renn (University of Stuttgart)