The Shared Research Group on "Limits and Objectivity of Scientific Foreknowledge: The Case of Energy Outlooks" (LOBSTER) is funded by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It is associated both with the Institute of Philosophy and with the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS).

The Shared Research Group addresses the reliability of scientific policy advice from a general, methodological point of view. It focuses especially on energy predictions and scenarios. Besides assessing the uncertainties involved, the Shared Research Group examines how to cope rationally with risks and uncertainties in concrete decision situations. It develops, in particular, innovative argument mapping technologies to structure complex controversies.

The work of the Shared Research Group is not only of relevance from the theoretical perspective of philosophy of science, but has obvious, practical implications. Thus, the Shared Research Group seeks to improve scientific advice in the field of energy and climate policy, and will develop guidelines that inform policy-makers who face decisions under uncertainty.

The Shared Research Group contributes to several projects, e.g. the Helmholtz Research School on Energy Scenarios, the Helmholtz Alliance Energy-Trans, and the Priority Program Climate Engineering of the DFG.

Project website: http://srg-lobster.philosophie.kit.edu/