Technologiedynamica en Duurzame Ontwikkeling
Which technologies can be used – and have to be developed – in order to control global warming? How could and should technologies be designed, chosen, implemented and managed to tackle and avoid other environmental issues? How and under which conditions can we apply technological means to fight world poverty problems? How and in which ways can technology contribute to socio-technical transitions in the fields of energy and water, in East and West, North and South? The section Technology Dynamics & Sustainable Development addresses this kind of questions in its education and research efforts, searching for practical solutions and strategies on the basis of theoretical insight and factual knowledge regarding the dynamics and steerability of technology and society.
In its research and general orientation, the section combines normative and empirical approaches, aiming at, on the one hand, providing an Integrated Analysis and Assessment of global environmental problems and risks and, on the other hand, designing and shaping Strategies for Sustainable Technology Development. In its analysis, the section dismisses traditional linear innovation models (like technology push and market pull) and links up with theories that stress the character of modern technology as a collection of socio-technical actor-systems and the co-construction and co-evolution of technology and society. When it comes to implementation and transition issues, the core business of the group consists of "Sustainable and Responsible Innovation", in which the concept of Value Sensitive Design is leading. Key values are inter-generational solidarity (now and later: solidarity with future generations) and intra-generational solidarity (here and there: solidarity with the poor), both resulting from the Brundtland definition of sustainable development (ecological and social sustainability respectively).
The theoretical specialization of the section is "systems integration", esp. integrating energy concepts, the water-energy nexus and eco-cities. Thematically the focus is on energy and water. A well-developed tool box supports activities, both for the analysis of Technology and Society issues and for Policy Analysis and Development as well as Transition Management, excelling at participative methods (back-casting, Q-methodology), civil society & communicative sustainability and the innovation systems approach.
The research and education activities of the section are grouped in three overlapping clusters:
- Professional responsibility: professionalization and responsibility of engineers. The section develops education and research activities aimed at the formation of engineers as responsible professionals. Integrating sustainability in the engineer’s education is not only put in practice, but also promoted nationally and internationally. Teaching sustainability ethics, investigating and promoting the ethical basis and social engagement of engineering as well as reflecting on sustainable technology remain key tasks of the section, especially in relation to other key values like safety, security and justice and key themes like risk and trust.
- The living planet: eco-solutions and system earth issues. This cluster focuses on the analysis and design of implementation strategies and governance models for new technologies that enhance ecological value as well as intervention tools with which socio-technical transitions can be stimulated and adjusted. Earth System Engineering and Management is important here, as are technological greening strategies. Essential subjects of study and training are sustainable entrepreneurship, stakeholder involvement and institutional reforms, especially in relation to Industrial Ecology. Searching local solutions for global problems is the general strategy.
- Global justice: engineering for development. This theme addresses development issues, both in poor and emerging countries. "Development" is a long term transition analogue to the Western modernization process, though present-day particularities have to be seriously considered. Significant items are governance and entrepreneurship, both relevant for innovation systems as the motors of development. Activities in this cluster support responsible innovation in developing countries and the development and implementation of technologies for sustainable economic growth. Interesting strategies are: "dead-aid solutions" for poor regions, "leapfrogging" for emerging economies and securing international public goods.
