The 2021 SRA-E Benelux Conference focuses on the theme: “The Risk-Technology Nexus”. Risk and technology are intricately linked to each other. Technologies can contribute to risk reduction, but often also introduce new risks. Think for example about ultra-deep geothermal energy, which can reduce global risks of climate change, but at the same time introduces new, local risks of groundwater pollution and earthquakes. Technologies thus require thoughtful weighing of old and new risks.
Understanding the interaction between risk and technology is particularly important for socially disruptive technologies. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet-of-Things, gene editing, social robots and geo-engineering can bring fundamental change to society and challenge our existing views of risk trade-offs. Artificial intelligence, for example, can reduce health and safety risks or improve user experiences, but can also lead to social disruption through discrimination and exclusion of specific groups of people, filter bubbles and privacy and security risks.
SRA-E Benelux invites all contributions related to risk, e.g., risk analysis, risk management, risk governance, risk perception and risk communication. It particularly welcomes contributions that focus on the Risk-Technology Nexus of potentially disruptive technologies.
This conference aims at bringing together researchers, academics, practitioners and policy makers from the Benelux region and beyond to discuss issues of common interest. Members of the SRA-Europe, SRA International and other regional SRA organizations are also most welcome to participate.
The conference will be organized by the Eindhoven University of Technology, on March 16, 2021. The Eindhoven University of Technology is located in the Brainport area of the Netherlands, which has a high concentration of high-tech industry, research and innovation, and is located quite centrally in the Benelux.
Abstracts (max. 500 words or 1 page, single spaced, 12 pt, Times Roman) and queries can be submitted to SRA-Benelux-conference@tue.nl until January 4th, 2021.
For more information, visit the event website.
