CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND THOUGHT

Welcome to the Center for Science and Thought

The Center for Science and Thought (CST) is a radically interdisciplinary platform designed to address urgent questions that arise at the intersection of philosophy and various natural sciences.
The CST is located at Konrad-Zuse-Platz 1-3, 53227 Bonn.

Current News of the CST


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© Chelsea Haramia

Dr. Chelsea Haramia was appointed as a new member of the Science Advisory Board of the SETI Institute in California in August 2024. The institute focuses on the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life.

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Event Series CST
© CST

This series of seminars and lectures explores the theoretical ramifications and implications of “AI and the Digital”. International experts discuss the different entanglements of thought and technology.

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Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Maurizio Ferraris

We are pleased to announce that Maurizio Ferraris' new book "Webfare: Digital Equity" will be published by transcript next month. The book is based on his work as a Mercator Visiting Professor at CST in 2023 and will be available in print, PDF and ePub, with the PDF version available for free in open access.

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Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Pixabay
From June 2024, transcript will publish the new book series Technosophy , edited by the Centre for Science and Thought at the University of Bonn.

Here you can find additional news.

Events of the CST


Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Clarote & AI4Media / Better Images of AI / Labour/Resources / CC-BY 4.0

 The seminar series "Cross-Cultural Approaches to Desirable AI" aims to encourage intercultural and interdisciplinary discussion on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI). Its primary focus is to support and develop research on AI and social justice, particularly from intersectional feminist and anti-racist perspectives. "Cross-Cultural Approaches to Desirable AI" is a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge, Bonn, Tokyo and the University of Europe for Applied Sciences.

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Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Jerôme Schickschneit

Which new values could replace current versions of work ethics? What does ethical economic behavior look like under today’s capitalist conditions? Will idleness be the end of democracy? Or will technological advances allow us to create a utopia of leisure?

This event explores the profound impact of AI and robotics on the labor economy. Supported by DWIH Tokyo and Stiftung Mercator, it aims to foster a nuanced debate on the future of labor and technology.

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Surrogate
© Peter William Holden

Join us for the "Surrogate Humanity" lecture with authors Neda Atanasoski and Kalindi Vora on July 5th, 4pm @CST. They will discuss how technologies like AI and robots serve as substitutes for human labor within systems of racial capitalism and patriarchy. Respondents Markus Gabriel and Aimee van Wynsberghe will explore alternative approaches to technological development.

Here you can find more events.

Research of the CST

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© pixbay

Certified AI

The aim of the project is to develop procedures to examine generally accepted standards for AI systems and their verification, as well as to explore business models for an AI certification. Our research investigates the ethical-philosophical significance of these dimensions.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Dorian Peters/LCFI

Desirable Digitalisation

Rethinking AI for Just and Sustainable Futures.
We investigate how to design AI (artificial intelligence) and other digital technologies in a responsible way, placing the questions of social justice and environmental sustainability at the very heart of our work.

Our research program is a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge and Bonn and numerous international partners, and is funded by the Mercator Foundation in Germany.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© public domain

Borderline Consciousness

The 'Towards New Demarcation Criteria for Borderline Consciousness' Project is an interdisciplinary project involving a collaboration between philosophers of Bonn and Cambridge and neuroscientists from the epilepsy clinic in Bonn. Its main purpose is to create an international research forum to develop new criteria for determining whether and when non-human entities, such as non-linguistic animals, new brain organisms, or advanced AI systems can be considered conscious.

You can find more information about our research projects here.


Interdisciplinary Work
© Pixabay

This summer semester,  most of the sessions of the CST AI research group will be convened by Audrey Borowski, as part of her "AI and the Digital" Seminar Series.

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© Pixabay

You can find a selection of publications here.

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© Freepik

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