ITAS-Newsletter --- No 111 - 23 July 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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99 PROJECTS FOR A POST-FOSSIL FUEL FUTURE
Throughout Baden-Württemberg, researchers are working on solutions to replace fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives. This is underscored by a list of 99 research projects that Science Minister Petra Olschowski has now presented. ITAS is participating in the “ENSURE III” project on sustainable power grids and the “KOMM-WÄRME” project on the municipal heating transition.
more
AGORA-KI: WHEN AI MODERATES SOCIAL MEDIA
Do automated systems help reduce hate speech on social media? Or do they themselves create new injustices? ITAS investigates how AI agents influence debates and develops criteria for the democratic use of this technology.
more
HELMHOLTZ WHITE PAPER: BETTER PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC
What have we learned from COVID-19 – and how can we use this knowledge for the future? A White Paper co-authored by ITAS summarizes research findings and provides concrete recommendations for effective pandemic preparedness.
more
PROFIT OVER PLANET? THE CLIMATE CRISIS AS A MARKET
The new ITAS anthology shows: Capitalism not only causes the climate crisis but also profits from it. “Green” technologies and net-zero pledges are presented as solutions, but they often reinforce the very structures that exacerbate the crisis.
more
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TATuP Journal
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NEW ISSUE “SCIENCE FICTION AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT”
Just like technology assessment, science fiction also aims to explore the futures of technology – albeit in very different ways. The current TATuP Special topic highlights the potential that lies in combining these two approaches.
Full issue
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Policy advice
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NEW TAB WORK PROGRAMME APPROVED
The TAB is launching new projects on artificial intelligence, health and sustainable technologies. These new topics were approved by the Bundestag’s Research Committee based on proposals from all parliamentary groups and specialist committees.
more
DIGITAL TWINS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Digital twins can make cities more efficient and climate-friendly. A new TAB study shows that clear standards, reliable funding, and sustainable governance structures are essential for their widespread adoption.
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RARE EARTHS - PROSPECTS FOR A MORE RESILIENT SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIALS
The TAB report examines the role of rare earths in future technologies, analyses dependencies along global supply chains, and outlines policy options for stabilising supply.
more
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Job offers
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Student assistant (f/m/d)
To support public relations efforts for the ICN project “Transdisciplinary and Transformative Sustainability Education”
Karlsruhe
from 01.09.2026
Student assistant (f/m/d)
Support for Press and Public Relations
Karlsruhe
from 01.10.2026
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From ITAS
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STATEMENT ON THE "REAL-WORLD LAB LAW"
The Bundeserprobungsgesetz (federal testing act) is intended to facilitate innovation and transformation processes in real-world labs and provide legal certainty. The Netzwerk Reallabore der Nachhaltigkeit (network of real-world laboratories for sustainability), co-founded by ITAS, welcomes the initiative but sees need for improvements, for example in the definition of real-world laboratories.
more
The statement was preceded in May 2026 by a hearing with experts in the German Bundestag.
Watch the video recording (featuring ITAS expert Oliver Parodi starting at 22:55)
CLIMATE CHANGE AND URBAN GREEN SPACES
Trees are becoming increasingly important for helping cities adapt to changing climate conditions – yet they themselves are severely affected by heat and drought. The ZUKAMAS project sought sustainable solutions and has now presented its findings.
more
Personalia:
Michael W. Schmidt has been an honorary research associate at the African Institute for Epistemology and Philosophy of Science at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa since May 2026. Since the beginning of the year, he has also been leading a Special Interest Group of the Society for Philosophy and Technology on political philosophy of engineering and technology.
Zeki Seskir successfully defended his dissertation at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at KIT. His doctoral project, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), examined how the implementation of quantum technologies is imagined in our society and the possible path dependencies this creates for the responsible development of these technologies.
Jaewon Son successfully defended her dissertation at the Department of Civil Engineering, Geo and Environmental Sciences at KIT. Her DAAD-funded doctoral project focused on cultural ecosystem services and the governance of urban green spaces. It provides comparative insights into how people, institutions, and value systems shape green space planning and management in Korea and Germany.
New staff members:
Julian Beyer (Research group “Sustainable Bioeconomy”)
Levent Erdem (Central tasks and administrative support)
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Events
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16.-17.09.2026
Real-World Labs Conference 2026: Back to the Future? Real-World Labs in Times of Disruptive Change
Technische Hochschule Köln, Campus Leverkusen
22.09.2026
TA in dialogue: Cybersecurity in the research process
Deutscher Bundestag, Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
Paul-Löbe-Haus, Sitzungssaal
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ITAS in the media
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Tagesschau (17.07.2026)
Über die Chancen und Gefahren der KI mit Armin Grunwald
more
Forschung & Lehre (10.07.2026)
Zu den Technikfolgen der Kernfusion mit Armin Grunwald und Reinhard Grünwald
more
DIE ZEIT (08.07.2026)
Beziehungsberater KI - wenn ChatGPT Tipps in der Liebe gibt mit Dana Mahr
more
BR2 (24.06.2026)
Energiespeicher - welche Technologie brauchen wir für die Energiewende mit Manuel Baumann
more
Tagesspiegel (25.05.2026)
Die „Enhanced Games“ in Las Vegas: Eine Handvoll Superreicher träumt vom Übermenschen mit Christopher Coenen
more
SWR (19.05.2026)
KI denkt in Schubladen - und zementiert so Vorurteile mit Dana Mahr
more
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Researchers in focus
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"In light of rapid technological progress and societal disruptions, scientific advice for policymakers is more important than ever. For me, this means raising MPs awareness of developments that require strategic action today – even if the effects will only become apparent in the medium term. The key is striking the right balance between analytical depth and tailored communication.”
Pauline Riousset, Research Associate at the Office for Technology Assessment of the German Bundestag
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Publications
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BOOKS AND REPORTS
Bartenschlager, R.; Traidl-Hoffmann, C.; Dresch, T.; Leisner, T.; Ebert, G.; Neumann, A.; Gilles, S.; Noei, H.; Hahn, J.; Wyler, E.; Lecrivan, G.; Yaddanapudi, L.
Zentrale Ergebnisse von COREAERO und COVIPA Projekten
2026. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194322
Bartenschlager, R.; Traidl-Hoffmann, C.; Dresch, T.; Leisner, T.; Ebert, G.; Neumann, A.; Gilles, S.; Noei, H.; Hahn, J.; Wyler, E.; Lecrivan, G.; Yaddanapudi, L.
Key results of the CORAERO and COVIPA projects
2026. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194650
Saussure, M. de; Bernhold, S.; Hungerland, T.; Kind, S.
Potenziale des digitalen Zwillings für eine nachhaltige und klimaangepasste Stadtentwicklung
2026. Büro für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung beim Deutschen Bundestag (TAB). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194201
Scheer, D.; Müller, L.; Stuhm, P.
Heat transition through ‘right’ decisions: Ein entscheidungstheoretischer und politikinstrumenteller Ansatz am Beispiel der kommunalen Wärmewende
2026. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194930
Smeddinck, U. (Hrsg.)
Standortauswahlgesetz – Kommentar
2026. Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag (BWV)
Spiekermann-Hoff, S.; Langheinrich, M.; Hoff, J.; Wendehorst, C.; Pfeffer, J.; Fuchs, T.; Grunwald, A., The Power of 10: New Rules for the Digital World
2026. arxiv. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2601.03709
Witte, P.; Puhe, M.
Mobilitätsverhalten und Alltagsgestaltung in Marxzell: Ergebnisse einer Bevölkerungsumfrage
2026. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194086
Witte, P.; Puhe, M.; Schippl, J.
Mobilitätsverhalten und Alltagsgestaltung in Bad Schönborn: Ergebnisse einer Befragung
2026. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194099
BOOK CHAPTERS AND PROCEEDINGS
Beck, G.; Compagna, D.; Sept, A.; Sörgel, F.
Die Kartierung von Kontroversen
2026. Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung – Eine Einführung in zentrale Konzepte und aktuelle Forschungsperspektiven. Ed.: A. Krüger, 547–566, De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783112245897-035
Büscher, C.; Ufer, U.
Menschliche Aktivitäten als Treiber der anthropogenen Klimakrise: Grenzen, Tipping-Points oder Kontinuität des Wachstums?
2026. Profit statt Planet? Kapitalismus im Zeitalter der Klimakatastrophe : Wie die ökologische Krise zum größten Geschäftsmodell der Zukunft wird. Eds.: D. Mahr, 37–77, Oekom Verlag
Grunwald, A.
Images of the Human Being: Technology: Living reference work entry
2026. Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene: Pluriversal Perspectives. Ed.: N. Wallenhorst, C. Wulf, 1–7, Springer Nature Switzerland. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51703-7_246-1
Grunwald, A.
The Social Process of AI-Fueled Digitalization: A Philosophical View
2026. AI Ethics: A Cross-Cultural Dialogue. Ed.: G. Wang, 195–204, Springer Nature Singapore. doi:10.1007/978-981-95-8023-1_14
Janoschka, M.; Can, A.; Alexandri, G.
Akkumulation durch energieeffiziente Enteignung: Wohnen, Finanzialisierung und die grüne Transformation in Thessaloniki
2026. Profit statt Planet? Kapitalismus im Zeitalter der Klimakatastrophe. Ed.: D. Mahr, Oekom Verlag
Krings, B.-J.; Sörgel, F.; Weinberger, N.
Technofixes als Fortschritt? Zur Ambivalenz eines Konzepts
2026. Profit statt Planet? Kapitalismus im Zeitalter der Klimakatastrophe. Ed.: D. Mahr, 116–140, Oekom Verlag
Laborgne, P.; Stelzer, V.
Community-Driven Innovation for Inclusive Urban Energy Transitions
2026. Borsari, Alice; Vettorato, Daniele; Bisello, Adriano; Pace, Rocco; Zandonella Callegher, Claudio; Giacovelli, Grazia; Voltolini, Federico; Giussani, Fabio; Bottino Leone, Dario; Grazieschi, Gianluca; Libardoni, Giovanni; Muccio, Eugenio; Siclari, Isabella; Biancifiori, Sara (Eds.): SSPCR 2025 - Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions Conference, 86–87, Eurac Research
Scheer, D.; Gramelsberger, G.; Kaminski, A.
23 Simulation und Modellierung in der Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung
2026. Wissenschafts- und Technikforschung – Eine Einführung in zentrale Konzepte und aktuelle Forschungsperspektiven. Ed.: A. Krüger, 423–440, De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783112245897-028
Schürkmann, C.; Emmenegger, R.; Kuppler, S.
Die Entsorgung radioaktiver Abfälle. Drei Perspektiven auf ein langfristiges Problem
2026. Wie Abfall die Welt bewegt - Handbuch sozialwissenschaftliche Abfallforschung. Hrsg.: Y. Idies, 327–346, transcript Verlag
Smeddinck, U.
Überarbeitung und Ergänzung der Kommentierung zu §§ 1, 2 (zusammen mit Saleem Chaudry), 5, 6 und 8
2026. Smeddinck, Ulrich (Hg.): Standortauswahlgesetz – Kommentar, 2. Aufl., Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag (BWV)
Wijburg, G.; Alexandri, G.; Waldron, R.
Addressing Housing Financialization
2026. Reference Module in Social Sciences, Elsevier. doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-44207-0.00007-9
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Alexandri, G.; Gourzis, K.; Katsinas, P.; Sakali, C.; Dagkouli-Kyriakoglou, M.; Vrantsis, N.
The gentrification, touristification and housing financialization nexus in Southern European cities
2026. European Urban and Regional Studies, 33 (3), 291–299. doi:10.1177/09697764261435176
Ciotola, A.; Colombo, S.; Elmenshawy, A. I. Z.; Fuss, M.; Poganietz, W.-R.
A holistic methodological framework to support strategic procurement and supplier selection for sustainable supply chains of mineral resources within a changing global landscape
2026. Resources Policy, 118, Article no: 105932. doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2026.105932
Das, S.; Baumann, M.; Weil, M.
Sustainable cathode material screening for sodium-ion batteries using a hesitant fuzzy-intuitionistic MCDM framework
2026. Green Chemistry, 28 (21), 8966–8987. doi:10.1039/D6GC00637J
Eichbaum, F.
Eighteenth-century science communication? Exploring the case of Julien Offray de La Mettrie
2026. Public Understanding of Science. doi:10.1177/09636625261441408
Frey, P.; Gnisa, F.; Lopez, U.
Democratic Innovation in Mondragon: An Analysis of the Participatory Innovation Model of the World’s Largest Cooperative Corporation
2026. Ethics and Society, 20 (2), Art.-No. 23. doi:10.1007/s11569-026-00515-1
Frölich, N. M.; Rhodius, R.; Jauer, L.; Mbah, M.; Weiser, A.; Lang, D. J.
Navigating four junctions: a framework to design context- and format-sensitive transdisciplinary research
2026. Sustainability Science. doi:10.1007/s11625-026-01848-2
Grossarth, J.; Grunwald, A.
Tragedies of Technology: An Exploration of Such Narratives
2026. Science and Engineering Ethics, 32 (4), Art.No: 29. doi:10.1007/s11948-026-00597-w
Grunwald, A.
Science Advice to Parliaments: The Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag
2026. BioLaw journal, (2S), 127–139. doi:10.15168/2284-4503-4032
Grunwald, A.
Technikfolgenabschätzung trifft Anthropologie: Technik, Technikfolgen und die Frage nach dem Menschen = Technology assessment meets anthropology: Technology, technological consequences, and the question of what it means to be human
2026. TATuP - Zeitschrift für Technikfolgenabschätzung in Theorie und Praxis, 35 (2), 69–74. doi:10.14512/tatup.7330
Illankoon, W. A. M. A. N.; Premathilake, D. S.; Mazzucchelli, A.; Sorlini, S.; Baumann, M.;
Passarini, F.
Strategic Decision Making and Validation of Waste-to-Energy Technologies for Developing Countries: An MCDA Framework via AHP and Direct Weight Analysis
2026. Energy Nexus, Article no: 100736. doi:10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100736
Jin, Y.; Sun, M.; Shi, Z.; Achchige, D. P. S. T.; Liu, H.; Yang, H.; Subasi, Y.; Gond, R.; Wang, Y.; Asfaw, H. D.; Tian, Y.; Baumann, M.; Weil, M.; Yao, Y.; Yang, H.; Younesi, R.; Jönsson, P. G.; Yang, W.; Han, T.
Energy‐Efficient Induction Carbonization: Tailoring Pore Structures in Hard Carbon Anodes Toward Enhanced Electrochemical Performance
2026. Carbon Energy. doi:10.1002/cey2.70243
Li, B.; Wang, D.; Coenen, C.; Kazakova, A.; Wang, N.
Correction: The Chinese Context and Future Directions in Philosophy of Engineering: An Interview with Li Bocong
2026. Ethics and Society, 20 (2), 18. doi:10.1007/s11569-026-00509-z
Mahr, D.
Sexualized deepfakes as a socio-technical continuation of gendered power
2026. AI & SOCIETY. doi:10.1007/s00146-026-03080-z
Morina, R.; Carena, E.; Pianta, N.; Orsilli, J.; d’Acapito, F.; Bahmei, F.; Galli, A.; Weil, M.; Ferrara, C.
Closing the battery loop: Choline citrate-based deep eutectic solvent to unlock direct cathode resynthesis via chlorine-free solvometallurgy
2026. Journal of Power Sources, 689, Art.No: 240716. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.240716
Puhe, M.; Fleischer, T.; Schippl, J.; Witte, P.
Exploring Spatial Behavior via Social Network Analysis: a Survey-based Approach
2026. Transportation Research Procedia, 97, 426–435. doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2026.04.180
Regenspurg, S.; Eiche, E.; Alms, K.; Bäßler, R.; Blöcher, G.; Goldberg, V.; Hofmann, H.; Kieling, K.; Rösch, C.; Rüpke, L.; Sander, S.; Stechern, A.; Sielemann, K.; Weis, P.
Perspectives of co-extraction of geothermal heat with the critical raw materials lithium and copper from sedimentary basin fluids on the example of the North German Basin
2026. Geothermics, 140, 103726. doi:10.1016/j.geothermics.2026.103726
Rubio, A.; Pardal, S.; Pinto-Neves, D.; Betting, F.; Petridis, Z.; Chakraborty, T.; Köhler, M.; Peter, A.; Saha, S.
A cross-continental analysis of tree-related microhabitats, stress symptoms, and biodiversity assessed through eDNA in Acer platanoides L. and Quercus rubra L. trees located in urban parks and on streets
2026. Basic and Applied Ecology, 94, 74–84. doi:10.1016/j.baae.2026.06.001
Rüsenberg, F.; Fleischhut, N.
A behavioral change approach to understanding true demand for future climate information
2026. Climatic Change, 179 (5), Art.No: 101. doi:10.1007/s10584-026-04163-y
Saxena, A.; Fakharizadehshirazi, E.; Arneth, A.; Belda, D. M.; Brown, C.; Otryakhin, D.; Rösch, C.; Rounsevell, M.
Advancing the renewable energy transition through land prioritisation and advanced photovoltaic technologies: A case study of Germany
2026. Sustainable Futures, 11, 101930. doi:10.1016/j.sftr.2026.101930
Trenks, H.; Beecroft, R.
Assessing competency development in transformative teaching – a real-world lab case study on sustainability self-experiments
2026. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 27 (10), 362–379. doi:10.1108/IJSHE-11-2024-0824
van Panhuys, M.; Jadreškić, D.
Inductive risk meets engineering risk: Error management and pursuitworthiness in collider physics
2026. European Journal for Philosophy of Science, 16 (1), 19. doi:10.1007/s13194-026-00730-3
Yaddanapudi, L.; Fisher, E.; Hahn, J.
Enhancing translation capacities of COVID-19 researchers through interdisciplinary collaboration: empathy, awareness, and action
2026. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 21 (1), Art.No: 2666722. doi:10.1080/17482631.2026.2666722
Yaddanapudi, L.; Hahn, J.; Esslinger, F.; Ladikas, M.
Trust vs. knowledge during COVID-19: the dominance of trust in promoting preventive behaviours and its role in technology acceptance in Germany and India
2026. BMC Public Health, 26 (1), 1559. doi:10.1186/s12889-026-27638-0
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