Science for Peace? The role of engineering in wartime
Event details
| Date | 12.04.2022 |
| Hour | 18:00 › 20:30 |
| Speaker | Nicolas Baya Laffite, Edouard Bugnion, Marcello Ienca, Mariazel Maqueda López, Titouan Renard |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | French, English |
Screening of the documentary "The Pacifist" on the life of chemist Gertrud Woker, followed by a debate on the current risks of dual use of research for military purposes, and ways to prevent it.
During and after the world conflicts of the 20th century, Swiss chemist Gertrud Woker was a tireless whistleblower on the dangers of chemical and then nuclear weapons, and a pioneer in her demonstration of the toxicity of lead in gasoline. Largely ignored, even despised by her peers, she is since March 8, 2022 honored on the EPFL campus with a road dedicated to her memory, among seven illustrious women scientists.
The documentary "The Pacifist", by directors Fabian Chiquet and Matthias Affolter (2021), recounts the long life and achievements of this fascinating but forgotten woman. The screening (DE/FR/EN) will be an opportunity to reflect on the possible abuses of technology in wartime, a theme that resonates particularly today, with new challenges related to the instruments of the 21st century. To this end, the Vice Presidency for Responsible Transformation has invited several observers of ethics, conflict and peace issues - in the broadest sense - in relation to engineering.
This roundtable will be moderated in English and French by Chloé Carrière (Galactic Chloé Show) and Michka Mélo (Sustainability Unit). The introduction will be given by Gisou van der Goot, Vice President for Responsible Transformation.
The panelists
Nicolas Baya Laffite is Associate Professor of Sociology of Science and Technology at the Institute of Sociological Research of the University of Geneva. He completed his doctoral thesis at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris. His work focuses on conflict in the production of sociotechnical orderings and innovation. Drawing on different branches of sociology (including political, economical and legal), he is particularly attentive to the interplay between technological trajectories, policy instruments, and social challenges in different arenas and across multiple scales.
Edouard Bugnion is Full Professor of computer science and head of the Data Center Systems Laboratory at EPFL. Before joining EPFL in 2012, he spent eighteen years in the United States, where he obtained his PhD at Stanford University and co-founded two startups: VMware and Nuova Systems (acquired by Cisco). Since 2018, he is a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Assembly, where he notably participates in the Independent Data Protection Monitoring Commission.
Marcello Ienca is a Principal Investigator at the College of Humanities at EPFL where he leads the ERA-NET funded Intelligent Systems Ethics research unit. Holder of a PhD in biomedical ethics from the University of Basel, his scholarship focuses on the ethical, legal, social and policy implications of emerging technologies. In particular, he investigates the broader implications of sociotechnical trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, digital epidemiology, robotics, assisted living, digital health, social media, dual use, and neurotechnology.
Mariazel Maqueda López is holder of a PhD in nanotechnology and the head of the PeaceTech Division at EPFL EssentialTech Center, which leverages the scientific knowledge and expertise of the EPFL’s Labs and partners to foster and sustain peace in all respects, meaning promoting the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts, but also nurturing the eradication of any kind of violence worldwide, with a special focus on gender-based issues.
Titouan Renard is a Master student in robotics and an environmental activist. He is co-president of Unipoly, the UNIL-EPFL student association for the promotion, exchange, cooperation and action in favor of an ecological solidarity, and represents La Convergence, the gathering of student associations for the promotion of sustainability on the EPFL campus.
During and after the world conflicts of the 20th century, Swiss chemist Gertrud Woker was a tireless whistleblower on the dangers of chemical and then nuclear weapons, and a pioneer in her demonstration of the toxicity of lead in gasoline. Largely ignored, even despised by her peers, she is since March 8, 2022 honored on the EPFL campus with a road dedicated to her memory, among seven illustrious women scientists.
The documentary "The Pacifist", by directors Fabian Chiquet and Matthias Affolter (2021), recounts the long life and achievements of this fascinating but forgotten woman. The screening (DE/FR/EN) will be an opportunity to reflect on the possible abuses of technology in wartime, a theme that resonates particularly today, with new challenges related to the instruments of the 21st century. To this end, the Vice Presidency for Responsible Transformation has invited several observers of ethics, conflict and peace issues - in the broadest sense - in relation to engineering.
This roundtable will be moderated in English and French by Chloé Carrière (Galactic Chloé Show) and Michka Mélo (Sustainability Unit). The introduction will be given by Gisou van der Goot, Vice President for Responsible Transformation.
The panelists
Nicolas Baya Laffite is Associate Professor of Sociology of Science and Technology at the Institute of Sociological Research of the University of Geneva. He completed his doctoral thesis at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) in Paris. His work focuses on conflict in the production of sociotechnical orderings and innovation. Drawing on different branches of sociology (including political, economical and legal), he is particularly attentive to the interplay between technological trajectories, policy instruments, and social challenges in different arenas and across multiple scales.
Edouard Bugnion is Full Professor of computer science and head of the Data Center Systems Laboratory at EPFL. Before joining EPFL in 2012, he spent eighteen years in the United States, where he obtained his PhD at Stanford University and co-founded two startups: VMware and Nuova Systems (acquired by Cisco). Since 2018, he is a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Assembly, where he notably participates in the Independent Data Protection Monitoring Commission.
Marcello Ienca is a Principal Investigator at the College of Humanities at EPFL where he leads the ERA-NET funded Intelligent Systems Ethics research unit. Holder of a PhD in biomedical ethics from the University of Basel, his scholarship focuses on the ethical, legal, social and policy implications of emerging technologies. In particular, he investigates the broader implications of sociotechnical trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, digital epidemiology, robotics, assisted living, digital health, social media, dual use, and neurotechnology.
Mariazel Maqueda López is holder of a PhD in nanotechnology and the head of the PeaceTech Division at EPFL EssentialTech Center, which leverages the scientific knowledge and expertise of the EPFL’s Labs and partners to foster and sustain peace in all respects, meaning promoting the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts, but also nurturing the eradication of any kind of violence worldwide, with a special focus on gender-based issues.
Titouan Renard is a Master student in robotics and an environmental activist. He is co-president of Unipoly, the UNIL-EPFL student association for the promotion, exchange, cooperation and action in favor of an ecological solidarity, and represents La Convergence, the gathering of student associations for the promotion of sustainability on the EPFL campus.
Links
Practical information
- General public
- Free