Research

My research is underpinned by the principle that technology is not a value per se. Technology aims to achieve particular functions or purposes and therefore needs to be capable of being assessed with regards to these purposes. More importantly, these purposes and functions need to be open to debate and questioning.

The following fields are the areas where most of my research is located. They have large areas of overlap and inform each other.

Critical theory

By critical theory I mean the extensive body of literature that questions the bases of knowledge, research and social practices with the aim of producing a better world. In current research on ICT, there are two main streams of critical work:

  • Critical social research in information systems
  • Critical theory in technology

These two streams of work are closely related, both drawing on classical critical theory (e.g. Frankfurt School, Habermas), but also alternative streams of critique such as Foucauldian work and others.

Critical work is characterised by its non-functional approach and its aim to promote emancipation.

Ethics in ICT and emerging technologies

Ethics in ICT is often discussed in publications on computer and information ethics. My particular interest is in the conceptualisation of ethics in technology. This relates to the question who determines ethical issues and on what grounds this is done.

An interesting tension in this area has to do with the question of factual perceptions of norms and their justification. To put it differently, it is the question of the distinction of acceptance and acceptabiltiy.This difference has bearings on the relaitionship of empirical research and normative conclusions which is based in the problem of the naturalistic fallacy.

Very briefly, I am generally interested in what is perceived to be an ethical issue, why it is so perceived and how these questions can inform action

My interest in the ethics of emerging technologies is mostly informed by my work on the ETICA project. The core issue is that it is easiest to change the trajectory of technology when little is known about it, whereas it is difficult to change technology when more detail is known. This is also known as the Collingridge dilemma.

The resulting question is how it is possible to identify emerging technologies early with a view to assessing their ethical consequences and proactively addressing these.

The findings related to this stream of research can be found on the ETICA project website.

Responsible Research and Information

The concept of responsible research and innovation (RRI) is the key that brings together most of my current work. Following the RRI-TOOLS project (http://www.rri-tools.eu/about-rri), it can be defined as:

  • Doing science and innovation with society and for society, including the involvement of society ‘very upstream' in the processes of research and innovation to align their outcomes with the values of society;
  • A wide umbrella that brings together different aspects of the relationship between science and innovation with society: ethics, gender equality, open access, public engagement, and science education;
  • A key concept at Horizon 2020, the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, since the main aspects of RRI have been adopted as cross-cutting issues in this programme.

RRI is at the heart of most of my current research projects.