Comparing two constellation analyses: Insights from the development of weeding robots and autonomous shuttles

Constellation analysis is a bridging concept for transdisciplinary strategy development. This article compares how constellation analysis was applied in two projects to map strategies for establishing new socio-technical constellations. The focus is on comparing the methodological approach and the question of how certain decisions affected the potential for strategy development and knowledge integration. The results show that the constellation analysis in both projects facilitated the integration of different perspectives as well as strategy development. In one project, an analytical focus on the project goals and project duration enabled a better understanding of the roles and tasks of the project partners and the adaptation of strategies to the current state of technology. In the other project, constellation analysis was used for strategy development beyond the project context and for knowledge transfer.Constellation analysis is a bridging concept for transdisciplinary strategy development. This article compares how constellation analysis was applied in two projects to map strategies for establishing new socio-technical constellations. The focus is on comparing the methodological approach and the question of how certain decisions affected the potential for strategy development and knowledge integration. The results show that the constellation analysis in both projects facilitated the integration of different perspectives as well as strategy development. In one project, an analytical focus on the project goals and project duration enabled a better understanding of the roles and tasks of the project partners and the adaptation of strategies to the current state of technology. In the other project, constellation analysis was used for strategy development beyond the project context and for knowledge transfer

Infrastructures of care: Ethics in everyday digital media use

This article conceptualizes digital media as infrastructures of care. Using care ethics, it explores the importance of maintenance and support for creating sustainable and equitable digital environments. Based on an examination of the challenges and user support relationships within digital media use, it proposes policy measures to enhance sustainability and inclusion, emphasizing the critical role of care in ensuring reliable digital infrastructures.This article conceptualizes digital media as infrastructures of care. Using care ethics, it explores the importance of maintenance and support for creating sustainable and equitable digital environments. Based on an examination of the challenges and user support relationships within digital media use, it proposes policy measures to enhance sustainability and inclusion, emphasizing the critical role of care in ensuring reliable digital infrastructures

Effective and democratic long-term radioactive waste governance: Lessons from Europe

Radioactive waste management (RWM) presents a complex long-term governance challenge due to its decades-to-centuries-long timeframes and associated uncertainties. In response to societal resistance to top-down governance approaches, most European countries have adopted new strategies to make RWM governance more democratic and effective. This article explores how four interlinked key areas of long-term governance – decision-making, public participation, knowledge, and financing – are shaped by various European countries through interconnected procedures, principles, and institutions. It identifies nine lessons for democratic and effective long-term RWM governance, concluding that a stepwise, participatory approach is a promising strategy to deal with the uncertainties and democratic deficits inherent in long-term issues. However, realizing this potential requires a continuous search for adequate procedures, principles, and institutions.Radioactive waste management (RWM) presents a complex long-term governance challenge due to its decades-to-centuries-long timeframes and associated uncertainties. In response to societal resistance to top-down governance approaches, most European countries have adopted new strategies to make RWM governance more democratic and effective. This article explores how four interlinked key areas of long-term governance – decision-making, public participation, knowledge, and financing – are shaped by various European countries through interconnected procedures, principles, and institutions. It identifies nine lessons for democratic and effective long-term RWM governance, concluding that a stepwise, participatory approach is a promising strategy to deal with the uncertainties and democratic deficits inherent in long-term issues. However, realizing this potential requires a continuous search for adequate procedures, principles, and institutions

Time, timing, and conflicting temporalities in experimental urban mobility governance

In this article, I explore the role of experiments in urban mobility governance. I ask to what extent they are responses to the challenges of coexisting timeframes and temporalities and what challenges the latter pose for experiments. My analysis is based on field visits and interviews with urban administrations and public transport providers in Copenhagen, Lisbon, and Madrid. My results show that urban administrations use experimentation as a form of reflexive, transformative governance. Public transport providers use experiments to navigate tensions between rapid regulatory changes and technological innovation and their long-lived infrastructure. Both actor groups stressed the importance of disruptions as natural experiments. Urban administrations used disruptions for experimentation to fast-track approved but difficult-to-implement projects. The temporary nature of experiments can pose a risk: It makes them vulnerable to political attacks. To mitigate backlash, good timing is critical.In this article, I explore the role of experiments in urban mobility governance. I ask to what extent they are responses to the challenges of coexisting timeframes and temporalities and what challenges the latter pose for experiments. My analysis is based on field visits and interviews with urban administrations and public transport providers in Copenhagen, Lisbon, and Madrid. My results show that urban administrations use experimentation as a form of reflexive, transformative governance. Public transport providers use experiments to navigate tensions between rapid regulatory changes and technological innovation and their long-lived infrastructure. Both actor groups stressed the importance of disruptions as natural experiments. Urban administrations used disruptions for experimentation to fast-track approved but difficult-to-implement projects. The temporary nature of experiments can pose a risk: It makes them vulnerable to political attacks. To mitigate backlash, good timing is critical

Neuronal optogenetics as a new topic of technology assessment?

This article is intended as a sketchy reflection on the question of the extent to which neuronal optogenetics could become a future topic of technology assessment (TA). To this end, we must first take a closer look at what technologies should be the subject of TA and what tasks can be ascribed to TA. In addition, an exemplary and also sketchy examination is made of whether TA on genetic engineering has already dealt with questions that arise in connection with genetic interventions in neuronal optogenetics. In this way, it can be determined whether neuronal optogenetics raises new questions for TA or requires new answers from it. The results suggest that a TA of neuronal optogenetics is needed.This article is intended as a sketchy reflection on the question of the extent to which neuronal optogenetics could become a future topic of technology assessment (TA). To this end, we must first take a closer look at what technologies should be the subject of TA and what tasks can be ascribed to TA. In addition, an exemplary and also sketchy examination is made of whether TA on genetic engineering has already dealt with questions that arise in connection with genetic interventions in neuronal optogenetics. In this way, it can be determined whether neuronal optogenetics raises new questions for TA or requires new answers from it. The results suggest that a TA of neuronal optogenetics is needed