ITAS-Newsletter --- No. 109 - 16 April 2026
[1] Research
[2] TATuP journal
[3] Policy advice
[4] Job offers
[5] From ITAS
[6] Events
[7] ITAS in the media
[8] Researchers in focus
[9] Publications
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Research
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FINAL STORAGE: ITAS INVESTIGATES CONFLICTING GOALS UNDERGROUND
Deep geological layers are gaining importance in the light of climate crisis and geopolitical developments. In a project launched by State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, ITAS investigates how this affects the search for a nuclear waste repository.
more
DEEPFAKES: PROJECT PUTS THOSE AFFECTED IN THE FOCUS
AI uses recordings of real people to create deceptively realistic images, videos, and sounds – often with serious consequences. A new ITAS project with potentially vulnerable individuals develops strategies to protect against abusive deepfakes.
more
UNDERSTANDING PARTICIPATION: ITAS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Getting around in the city, living together, protecting the environment – researchers are increasingly drawing on the expertise of citizens to address such issues. The new PaFo project examines the impact of this form of participation.
more
EU PROJECT ON FAIR AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT CITIES
In the “NEEDS Repowered” project, researchers and urban stakeholders develop approaches for a just transformation to climate neutrality. In Karlsruhe, ITAS, the Karlsruhe Climate and Energy Agency (KEK), and Karlshochschule collaborate on this.
more
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TATuP - Journal for TA in theory and practice
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NEW TATuP ISSUE ON DEEPLY SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Is deep sustainability possible? The current TATuP Special topic issues contributions that examine the feasibility of socio-technical innovations beyond extractivism, exploitation, and exclusion.
more
CALL FOR SPECIAL TOPIC EDITORS AND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
TATuP is looking for guest editors for the Special topic section of upcoming issues (submissions due by 31 March 2026). The current Call for Abstracts for the Special topic in issue 36/1 (2027) is online: “Generative AI at the workplace: Challenges and implications for knowledge-intensive work” (submissions by 19 March 2026).
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Policy advice
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DEEPFAKES – POTENTIAL, RISKS, AND LEGAL CHALLENGES
The TAB report provides a concise overview of deepfake technologies, their social impact, and legal challenges. The report identifies concrete options for action for politics, businesses, and civil society.
more
SUSTAINABLE AND SAFE CONCEPTS FOR SHIPPING
A new TAB report investigates ways to make shipping more climate-friendly shipping and the opportunities this involves for the German maritime industry.
more
GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF GENERATIVE AI
Alongside the first TABlog post in a new series on AI and parliamentary TA, TAB is publishing its guidelines for the use of generative AI. The aim is to promote the responsible, safe, and reflective use of artificial intelligence.
more
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Job offers
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University Professorship (W3) “Technology Assessment and Technology Governance“
The university professorship will be placed at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) and will assume leadership tasks there. ITAS is a globally leading institute for technology assessment, employing roughly 170 staff members.
more
Research Associate (m/f/d) holding a completed doctorate
Field: Engineering, Natural or Environmental Sciences
more
Student assistant URBORETUM project at the earliest possible date
Karlsruhe
more
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From ITAS
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30 YEARS OF ITAS: PUBLICATION ON CREATIVE COMPETITION
How can we use technology in a way that benefits us and our environment? On the occasion of last year’s anniversary, ITAS posed this question to school students in the competition “#KA2055: Unsere Stadt, unsere Zukunft!” (Our City, Our Future!). A publication looks back and presents the winners’ entries.
to the publication
NEW START FOR TA PORTAL
For more than ten years, openTA has been the information platform for the German-speaking TA community. With a new look, additional features, and an English version, it now also addresses researchers, politicians, and anyone interested in TA worldwide
more
TEACHING: VIDEO PRESENTS TA DEGREE PROGRAM
How do I assess technological innovations and how can I understand and help shape the resulting social change? This is what students can learn since the winter semester of 2025 in the major “Technology Assessment and Future Design” of the B.A. program “Liberal Arts and Sciences” at KIT.
to the video
“STUDYING FOR THE FUTURE”: LECTURE BY LUISA NEUBAUER
As part of the “School of Transformation” series, climate activist and Fridays for Future co-organizer Luisa Neubauer addressed an audience at KIT. Her lecture focused on the question of what we need to achieve sustainable change.
more
Personalia:
Markus Szaguhn has successfully defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at KIT. His doctoral project focused on the question of whether and how self-experiments and real-world experiments can help future pioneers of change to strengthen their commitment and skills for sustainable transformation.
New staff members:
Vivien Katharina Albers (Research group "Mobility futures“)
Leonie Hensgen (Research group “Designing Real-World Laboratory Research“)
Marius Huber (Research group “Sylvanus – Increasing resilience and reducing trade-offs during urban and peri-urban forest transformations”)
Birgit Limmer (Research group “Designing Real-World Laboratory Research“)
Franziska Baack (Research group “Designing Real-World Laboratory Research“)
Felix Brennecke (Research group “Designing Real-World Laboratory Research“)
Camille Landesvatter (Research group „Digitale Technologien und gesellschaftlicher Wandel“)
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Events
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18.03.2026
GlobalTA webinar on “Technology Assessment for Quantum Technologies: Insights, Outcomes, and Future Directions”
Online
25.03.2026
Zirkulär denken, handeln, leben: Im Selbstexperiment zur Kreislaufgesellschaft
InformatiKOM 1 & 2, Adenauerring 12, 76131 Karlsruhe
22.04.2026
Responsible Quantum Technologies Workshop
ITAS, Karlstraße 11, 76133 Karlsruhe
06.07.2026
Interdisciplinary International Graduate Summer School
Miramar Palace, Donostia-San Sebastián
16.09.2026
Reallabor-Konferenz 2026: Zurück in die Zukunft? Reallabore in Zeiten disruptiven Wandels
Technische Hochschule Köln, Campus Leverkusen
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ITAS in the media
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Deutschlandfunk Nova (27.02.2026)
Digital-Oligarchie: Der Rechtsruck der Big-Tech-Bosse mit Christopher Coenen
more
Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (20.02.2026)
Projekt »Sprache und KI«: Der Wordcast mit Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwald
more
Baden-TV (04.02.2026)
Vom Bund mit mehr als einer halben Million gefördert: KIT startet Projekt zur Suche von Atommüll-Endlager mit Sophie Kuppler
more
Campus Report (30.12.2025)
„Fatalismus ist unverantwortlich“ – Der KIT-Technikfolgenforscher und Philosoph Armin Grunwald zur ethischen Verantwortung im Anthropozän
more
lookKIT (04/2025)
EIN TINY HOUSE FÜR GROßE FRAGEN mit Pia Laborgne, Iulia Almeida & Marufa Sultana
more
lookKIT (04/2025)
KI: CHANCE ODER RISIKO mit Jutta Jahnel
more
Campus-Report (14.11.2025)
„Cyborg wider Willen?“ – Am KIT wird das Negativimage von Exoskeletten erforscht mit Jérémy Lefint
more
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Researchers in focus
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“Good food should be a source of enjoyment – and it should sustain our planet. To achieve this, we urgently need to transform our food system. I am particularly interested in how public catering can act as a powerful lever for change. In close collaboration with partners in the field, I am testing innovative sustainable practices in everyday kitchen life and using them to develop ideas for a more sustainable food system.”
Franziska Bürker
expert in sustainable nutrition
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Publications
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BOOKS AND REPORTS
Engel, B.; Neppl, M.; Parodi, O.; Schreider, C.; Zeile, P. (Hrsg.)
Urban Transformation 2025: Connecting Urban Sustainability Labs. Vol.1: Academic Contributions and Keynotes
2025. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Fischer, F.; Gudowsky-Blatakes, N.; Kehl, C.; Krings, B.-J.; Mahr, D.; Nentwich, M.; Pauls, A.; Riousset, P.; Schmitt, J.; Weinberger, N.
Foresight und Technikfolgenabschätzung: Monitoring von Zukunftsthemen für das Österreichische Parlament November 2025
2025. Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung (ITA) Wien. doi:10.5445/IR/1000187932
Lenz, M.; Harder, F.; Schippl, J.; Puhe, M.; Fleischer, T.; Hackenfort, M.; Stoll, T.
Präferenzen und Verkehrsentwicklung mit automatisierten Fahrzeugen
2025. Schweizerisches Bundesamt für Straßen (ASTRA)
Lüchinger, R.; Haase, M.; Baumann, M.; Walter, H.; Worlitschek, J.
MCDA Approach for Evaluating Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage: Bridging Knowledge and Perspectives – Part 1
2025. Elsevier B.V. doi:10.2139/ssrn.5398356
Lüchinger, R.; Haase, M.; Baumann, M.; Walter, H.; Worlitschek, J.
MCDA Approach for Evaluating Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage: Ranking and Interpretation – Part 2
2025. Elsevier B.V. doi:10.2139/ssrn.5418932
Madeira, O.; Albrecht, S.
Rechtliche und gesellschaftliche Herausforderungen von Deepfakes
2025. Büro für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung beim Deutschen Bundestag (TAB)
Tacca, A.; Agostini, A.; Busto, C.; Wulf, C.; Carbone, C.; Bresciani, F.; Jasper, F.; Gladkykh, G.; Tumminia, G.; Ersoy , H.; Salgado Beceiro, J.; Malek, K.; Mesa Estrada, L. S.; Barelli, L.; Picciotto Maniscalco, M.; Baumann, M.; Weil, M.; Ferraro, M.; Haase, M.; Cellura, M.; Erakca, M.; Stuhm, P.; Zapp, P.; Hischier, R.; Schmidt, S.; Dickler, S.; Longo, S.; Pantelis, S.; Passerini, S.; Abermann, S.; Taylor, S.; Müller, T.; Ramos, T. B.; Pechancová, V.; Wimmer, Y.; Lechon, Y.
White Paper – Sustainable Hybrid ES for the European Clean Energy Transition: Unlocking the Potential Application for Hybrid ES
2025. Storage Research Infrastructure Eco-System (StoRIES)
Toedter, O.; Nagel, N.; Drexler, M.; Rudi, A.; Patyk, A.; Dahmen, N. D.
Ergebnisbericht Forschungsunterstützte Maßnahmen zur Transformation von Anlagen für klimaneutrale Kraftstoffe (reFuels) in den industriellen Maßstab
2025. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000189548
BOOK CHAPTERS AND PROCEEDINGS
Grunwald, A.
Technikfolgen, Ambivalenz und Verantwortung: Zur conditio humana im Anthropozän
2025. Vertrauen und Risiko. Hrsg.: M. Barth, G. M. Hoff, 103–128, Verlag Karl Alber
Naraghi, N.; Nierling, L.; Wölfel, M.
Enabling Dilemmas of AI for Disabled Individuals
2025. Conference Proceedings of the 23rd STS Conference Graz 2025; Graz, Österreich, 05.-07.05.2025. Hrsg.: G. Getzinger, M. Jahrbacher, R. Prunč, 367–391, Verlag der Technischen Universität Graz
Szaguhn, M.
Transformatives Engagement in Unternehmen: Schlüsselkompetenzen für nachhaltige Entwicklung durch den Handabdruck im berufsbegleitenden Mechatronik-Masterstudium vermitteln
2025. Innovative Ansätze für die Nachhaltigkeitslehre und Forschung in der Hochschulbildung. Hrsg.: Walter Leal Filho, 187–212, Springer-Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-71601-4_11
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Baumann, M.; Maia, M.; Weinberger, N.
Consumer health technology data in the German healthcare system: Stakeholder perspectives, ethical challenges, and governance pathways
2025. DIGITAL HEALTH, 11. doi:10.1177/20552076251406307
Chakraborty, T.; Kramer, D.; Betting, F.; Saha, S.
Assessing the vitality of Norway maple trees in an urban setting near streets within pits and strips using morphological and ecophysiological methods
2025. Basic and Applied Ecology, 89, 136–154. doi:10.1016/j.baae.2025.11.003
Coenen, C.; Frey, P.; Gnisa, F.; Mital, A.
Meeting report: “An Amazon for workers? Visioneering alternatives for digitalized logistics work”. Workshop, 2025, Leipzig, DE
2025. TATuP – Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis, 34 (3), 76–77. doi:10.14512/tatup.7261
Grossarth, J.; Grunwald, A.
The Weightlessness of Flying: Toward a Phenomenological Theory of Tragedies in Technology
2025. Technology and Language, 6 (4), Article No.: 241. doi:10.48417/technolang.2025.04.02
Grunwald, A.
Искусственный интеллект: ответственные инновации перед лицом потенциальных постепенных дисрупций (Artificial Intelligence: Responsible Innovation in the Face of Potential Gradual Disruptions)
2025. Philosophy Journal of the Higher School of Economics, 9 (4), 68–83. doi:10.17323/2587-8719-2025-4-68-83
Holst, J.; Fritz, H.; Nölting, B.; Lang, D. J.; Löde, V.-L.; Ober, S.; Parodi, O.; Potthast, T.; Scheiding, C. T.; Weynand, M.; Singer-Brodowski, M.
Exploring culture(s) of sustainability at higher education institutions: a systematic review of concepts and pathways
2025. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 26 (9), 489–506. doi:10.1108/IJSHE-08-2024-0550
Mahr, D.
The algorithm that hates for our own good
2025. AI & SOCIETY. doi:10.1007/s00146-025-02746-4
Nölting, B.; Kopfmüller, J.; Zimmermann, A. B.; Bernert, P.; Barth, M.; Becker, S.; Fischer, D.; Molitor, H.; Pechlaner, H.; Schneider, F.; Schweizer, P.-J.; Stamm, C.; Wäger, P.; Wilhelm, R.
Wissenschaftsorganisationen als Impulsgeber einer Nachhaltigkeitstransformation
2025. GAIA – Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 34 (2), 83–87. doi:10.14512/gaia.34.2.4
Schweer, J.; Elstner, M.
On the explanatory power of atomistic simulations
2025. European Journal for Philosophy of Science, 15 (3), 45. doi:10.1007/s13194-025-00667-z
Sörgel, F.
Emotional Drivers of Innovation. Exploring the Moral Economy of Prototypes (excerpt) = Эмоциональные драйверы инноваций: исследования моральной экономии прототипов (фрагмент)
2025. Ekonomicheskaya Sotsiologiya, 26 (4), 69–82. doi:10.17323/1726-3247-2025-4-69-82
Thomas, M.; Tripathi, A. K.; Sood, R.; Saha, S.; Dhyani, S.
Exploring the relationship between tree traits and microhabitat richness in urban greenspaces of Nagpur city, India
2025. Arboricultural Journal, 1–18. doi:10.1080/03071375.2025.2598181
Wang, N.; Shang, K.; Liu, H.; Duan, Y.; Qin, D.
How carbon trading policy should be integrated with existing industrial policies: A case study of Chinese automotive industry
2025. Applied Energy, 384, 125442. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125442
Weinberger, N.; Krings, B.-J.; Mahr, D.
From an ethics of deficiency to an ethics of abundance: Convivial technologies in care = Von einer Ethik des Mangels zu einer Ethik der Fülle: Konviviale Technologien in der Pflege
2025. TATuP – Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis, 34 (3), 15–20. doi:10.14512/tatup.7183
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Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse
Karlstraße 11
76133 Karlsruhe
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