New Springer series on technology futures

The use of the plural "futures" is by no means accidental: firstly, light is to be shed on a broad spectrum of developments in science and technology; secondly, debates on technoscientific fields such as biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology, neurotechnology and robotics are influenced by a multitude of viewpoints and interests. On the one hand, these futures have an impact on the way advances are made, as well as on their results and consequences, for example by shaping the scientific agenda. On the other hand, scientific and technological innovations offer an opportunity to conceive of new futures with different implications for society. Reflecting this reciprocity, the series concentrates primarily on the way in which science and technology are influenced socially and culturally, on how their results can be shaped in a responsible manner in society, and on the way they affect our images of humankind.

The first volume of the new series has already been published: Joachim Boldt (Ed.): Synthetic Biology - Metaphors, Worldviews, Ethics, and Law. The main idea of this volume is that assessing synthetic biology from a societal and ethical perspective is not only a matter of determining possible harms and benefits of synthetic biology applications. Synthetic biology also incorporates a specific technoscientific understanding of its research agenda and its research objects that has philosophical and ethical implications. This edited volume sets out to explore and evaluate these synthetic biology worldviews and it proposes appropriate governance measures. In addition, legal challenges are discussed. (11.12.2015)

Further information:

• Publisher's information on the series
• Publisher's information on the first volume