Armin Grunwald

Professor/ITAS-KIT

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Education

Studies in Physics, Diploma degree 1983. Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) 1987 at the University of Cologne with a PhD thesis in theoretical solid state physics. Study of Mathematics and Philosophy, completed in 1991 with first state examination (Erstes Staatsexamen). Habilitation and venia legendi in Philosophy at the University of Marburg 1998.

Professional background

1987 - 1991 Systems specialist and project leader at Systems Research Laboratories GmbH, Cologne
1991 - 1995 Member of the scientific staff at the Central Space Systems Analysis Department of the German Aerospace Center
1995 Deputy Head of Unit at the head office of the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat)
1996 - 1999 Deputy Director of Europäische Akademie zur Erforschung von Folgen wissenschaftlich-technischer Entwicklungen GmbH (European Academy for research on the consequences of scientific/technical development)

Current positions

  • Since October 1999, Head of the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis
  • Since 2002, Head of the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag (TAB) 
  • Since 2007, holder of the Chair of Philosophy and Ethics of Technology at Karlsruhe University
  • Head of the "Technology, Innovation and Society: Technology assessment and energy systems analysis" program (TIS)  of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • Speaker of the "Technology, Innovation and Society" program of the Helmholtz Association
  • Speaker of the "Humans and Technology " focus of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
  • Speaker of the Helmholtz Alliance ENERGY-TRANS 

Fields of work

  • Theory of technology assessment
  • Ethics of technology
  • Concepts of sustainability
  • Nanotechnology and society