Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag

Leonhard Hennen • Christine Katz • Herbert Paschen • Arnold Sauter

Feasibility Study of a Forum for Science and Technology

TAB report no. 044. Berlin 1996, 216 pages

Summary

This report marks the completion by TAB of a feasibility study of a »Forum for Science and Technology« planned as a center of discussion in Germany about the importance of science and technology. The feasibility study includes the development of a concept of the contents and the organization of the planned Forum. in addition, it examines whether the buildings and the administrative setup planned in Göttingen through the activities of the "Förderverein", the sponsoring association, and the "Forum für Wissenschaft und Technik" society are suitable for the realization of the concept.

The concept developed in this report envisages three elements for the planned Forum - exhibitions, meetings, and a science unit, all of which could ensure the nationwide significance of the Forum located in Göttingen. Moreover, the thinking of TAB is governed by the recognition that an enhanced societal discussion and nationwide importance can only be achieved by a concept taking up the public debates, some of them controversial, about science and technology, in a proactive way. This clearly distinguishes the purposes of the Forum from the customary purposes of classical science and technology museums and from the concept of science centers currently pursued in various places in the Federal Republic. The planned Forum can establish a profile of its own, compared to other initiatives, in perceiving its role as that of a national discussion forum; also in exhibitions, by concentrating upon the significance and the consequences of science and technology, it can acquire an identity separate from other initiatives, and achieve the status of a legitimate platform for the technology debate in Germany.

Purposes and Activities of the Forum

The Forum for Science and Technology is to be a place where various, often contrary, views on science and technology are expressed and can be exchanged. At the interface of science and the public it is particularly important to facilitate communication between experts and the lay public.

For these purposes, the Forum must develop activities in three sectors:

• For one thing, it must have an exhibition sector addressed to a broad public, which shows science not for its own sake, but in its societal context and as an object of different societal evaluations.
• It must offer an extensive range of meetings and discussions, visible nationwide and open to the public at large, especially also to the lay public, whose topics and objectives go beyond the range of educational topics usually offered at science centers to accompany exhibitions.
• And, finally, the Forum must develop scientific competence of its own in the subject of »Science/Technology and the Public", which can show the Forum as a center also of scientific reflection about the causes and structures of public debates about science and technology.

In pursuing these three areas of activity, the Forum can prove to be a scientifically competent institution upholding discourse and open to all groups and positions in society. A first planning examination and a preliminary sketch of the expansion of the »locomotive shed« planned for use for the exhibitions has indicated that the building structures existing in Göttingen (in the shape of the "Otto Hahn Center" under development there) seem to lend themselves well to putting the overall concept into practice as proposed.

Exhibitions

In accordance with the role of the »Forum for Science and Technology« as a nationwide discussion forum about science and technology, its exhibitions are to be organized under the general heading of "Science in Context". It is not science and technology as such which are to be the topics, but their political, economic, and social associations and ramifications, which are to be made transparent.

Elaborating an exhibition concept requires long-term, close cooperation of scientists and experts in organizing exhibitions. These experts need two to three years merely to establish the conceptual design of a major exhibition up to the level of specific instructions for its design implementation, the so-called »script". This report, consequently, can only present a collection of material on the three subjects of the exhibition - Science in Context, Multimedia, Brain Research -, with some design references which could serve as a basis of an exhibition concept yet to be developed. A proposal for implementation is submitted by way of example on the "Analysis of the Human Genome« subject.

Core Exhibition: »Science in Context«

The core exhibition is to highlight the perspective adopted by the Forum for Science and Technology; it is not to be restricted to a specific technological area or scientific discipline. By developing the broad subject of »Technology and Society« in a comprehensive way, it is to introduce visitors to the same perspective which will then be used in (various) exhibitions focusing on special subjects (such as various fields of technology).

The core exhibition needs to be based on a historical approach to demonstrate the mutual interaction of the development of modern social life and the development of science and technology. However, it is not to be arranged like a historic documentation, but is to explain the current status of scientific civilization and the current debate in society in the light of its history. Consequently, displays should accentuate the current situation. These are the aspects which are to be addressed in the core exhibition:

• Science and Technology as Institutions of Society: This dimension of the »Science in Context« subject is assigned a key role in the core exhibition as the exhibition must show what the "machinery" of modern science (research) and technological development is composed of, the role it occupies in society and, finally, what other spheres of society advance and affect its development. Also, the "input" and the "output" of the science system should be considered something to be explained: What is the system of science and technology composed of in terms of personnel and administration? What is the performance generated by the system? In this connection, the key role of science and technology in developing, managing and interpreting the "storehouse of societal knowledge" is to be made clear. For this purpose, the development of science and technology must be explained historically, in terms both of organization and of culture, as a guiding concept of society. For our current situation, not only the political and institutional aspects (the importance of industrial research; the role of government in funding research and technology) must be highlighted; also a "glimpse of a laboratory" is necessary to show research as a social process of "making of facts".
• Science/Technology and Modem Everyday Life: A central point in explaining the societal relevance of science and technology is the way in which modern everyday life is influenced by science and technology. This applies to the quality of life and to affluence as well as, for instance, the influence of science and technology on world views and on human perceptions of themselves. Under the »Science/Technology and Everyday Life« heading, the exhibition should demonstrate, above all, the dependence of the modern way of life on science and technology, and the structures in everyday life produced by technology. it must be made clear that modern everyday life is inconceivable without technology. The exhibition should clearly explain the preconditions and the consequences of the daily use of technology and the way in which modern everyday life has been changed by technology.
• Public Evaluation of Science and Technology: The exhibition is to show by concrete examples, and highlight the development of, both the influence of science and technology on society (its concept of its own role and its self-interpretation) and the importance of public debates or public conflicts about science and technology. The key issue in this respect is the accent on evaluation of science and technology. The way in which progress in science is reflected in public understanding of social progress is to be demonstrated, and the development of the discussion about the progress paradigm is to be shown up to our current debates as dominated by »risk/safety« and "sustainability". In this connection, also the role of government in technology development and in modern technology controversies can be covered, and the question can be asked about the possibility and the problems of a democratic organization of science and technology development.

Multimedia

Multimedia is a recent technical development with a fast pace of innovation and far reaching consequences potentially affecting each and every member of the public. With a view to current and discernible future developments, especially their relevance to everyday conditions, an exhibition program is proposed which, on the one hand, provides a more knowledge-oriented introduction into the »Basic Principles« and "Applications" of multimedia and, on the other hand, allows visitors to acquire hands-on experience with current multimedia facilities.

The »Basic Principles« section provides an introduction into the basic technology of multimedia, such as transmission links and networks or the functioning and importance of digitalization of words, pictures, and sound as the technical principle of multimedia. Also psychological aspects relevant to multimedia applications are addressed, such as the combined action of human senses, or such institutional aspects as the history of various media systems (broadcasting, television, Telephone) technically integrated in multimedia applications.

The »Applications« of multimedia are to be introduced by means of three components:

• The key feature is the installation of one (or more) multimedia applications tuned to the aspects of multimedia use and experience of visitors, inviting users to try interactive applications.
• In addition, certain texts, pictures, and exhibits contain knowledge of an introductory, expanding, contrasting etc. character.
• Finally, the controversies important for, or relevant to, the respective application are to be addressed (such as legal issues: electronic signature in teleshopping).

This concept is developed in greater detail for these areas of application: »shopping: teleshopping", "working: telecooperation"; "teaching and learning by multimedia"; "computer games"; "seeing: interactive television"; "listening: interactive broadcasting"; "joining: interactive art"; and "consultancy: telemedicine".

In addition to these more knowledge-oriented features, the »Multimedia Workshop« contains a practical offer, for instance, of workshops about image processing, or the production of a small multimedia CD with the participation of attendants at a workshop. In contrast to the installations set up in individual departments, which are to allow visitors to accumulate experience of their own, the multimedia workshop would do real work, actually produce something, and include participants in such production processes.

Finally, visitors are to be able to use a »Media Library", which can be conceived of as a combination of library (with books about multimedia), a media library (with selected CD-ROMs or CD-Is on certain subjects: also with playback stations), and a shop in which these books, CDs, etc. can be purchased.

Biological Information Systems in Humans I: Brain Research

In presenting the »Brain Research« and "Human Genome Analysis" topics, the "Biological Information Systems in Humans" exhibition presents the two most outstanding research areas in modern life sciences.

The Brain Research exhibition is to convey information about the basic principles of neurobiology, arise interest in key research findings in the neurosciences, and draw attention to the opportunities and difficulties which may arise with possible applications in humans. The contents of the exhibition can be classified under three headings.

The first section is mainly concerned with the basic knowledge about and the functions and properties, respectively, of the brain. The presentations under this heading reflect the state of research in topics such as »The Functions of Sensory Perception and Motor Systems", "Behavior and Brain« (Attention and Consciousness, Emotions), and "Learning and Memory, Language", and develop proposals for the practical inclusion of these topics in an exhibition.

The second section is devoted more to the Application Potential of Findings in the Neurosciences and with associated Socio-political Consequences. This includes subjects dealing with the use of findings in the neurosciences and in neurobiology and associated actual and possible societal consequences, which ultimately means consequence for the everyday life of each of us. These are the main topics to be covered in greater detail: Possibilities of Therapy (Pathologically) Altered Brains; Neurotechnology; Psychophysiological Methods of Therapy.

The third section of the exhibition on brain research is concentrated on Persons involved in Research, Politics, and Applications. Under this heading, information is to be presented especially about the development of brain research throughout the centuries, and about the most important pioneers in the field. This will be followed by discussions of such aspects as the current organization of brain research, the allocation of research funds, and the international network of brain research. Another subject to be mentioned in the exhibition are the political implications of the use of developments in neurotechnology, and the public perception of findings and developments in brain research.

Biological Information Systems in Humans II: Human Genome Analysis

The contents of two particularly important research topics in (molecular) genetics were developed further in the feasibility study and arranged for exhibition purposes so that a »preliminary treatment« was compiled as a first step of execution: On the one hand, this is the so-called Human Genome Project (HGP, the complete analysis and sequencing, respectively, of the human genome), which represents a new dimension of biological research projects and visions and, on the other hand, it is the expansion, refinement, and application of individual genetic diagnostics, which will be of particular relevance to the individual and to society as a whole.

In the concept of the exhibition, the general subject of »Human Genome Analysis« is subdivided into a Basic Principles area and five areas covering specific topics. The Basic Principles area is to arouse the interest of visitors in the subject by means of an effective introductory section, lead into the topic on the basis of fundamental biological knowledge about genetics and genetic research, and briefly address the specific topics to be covered in greater detail later, arouse interest in those topics, and thus constitute a focus, an interface, and a link at the same time. in addition to basic knowledge about DNA, chromosomes and genes, about evolution, mutation and individual development, also research techniques and their history will be documented, various concepts of genes and their interaction with the environment will be discussed, and persons involved in research and application will be presented (in medicine and human genetics, self-help and handicapped groups, etc.).

The »Research, Progress and Funding« topic is to deal with the origins, objectives, and current status of the HGP, with research promotion and funding, influences of economic policy, and the patent problem. Genetic Diagnostics, Tests and Consulting will use various types of tests and various diseases as a basis for discussing the achievements and problems of prenatal diagnosis, "parent" and predictive diagnoses. Applications and possible consequences of genetic diagnostics in non-medical areas, such as on the job or in the insurance business, will be presented under the heading of Everyday Visions - Future Scenarios. Under the subject of Norms and Variety/Humans - Puppets of Their Genes?, patterns of disease and concepts of normality will be presented, and recent discussions in sociobiology will be addressed. One section of the exhibition, Historic Scientific Concepts, finally describes the historic development of human genetics from the first (prescientific) approaches to eugenic concepts or plainly mad ideas for improving the world, up to current positions and objectives.

Meetings and conferences

The meetings area is to be designed so that small events (seminars, workshops) can be arranged, both of a scientific type (interdisciplinary workshops) and for more General audiences (teachers, journalists, the interested lay public) and decisionmakers in politics, administration, and industry. These events are meant to deal in greater depth with some aspects of the topics covered in the exhibitions, or to address questions which can only be referred to briefly in an exhibition.

Above all, however, it is bigger public conferences which should enable the Forum to acquire an outstanding reputation in the technology and science policy debates. In addition to organizing big interdisciplinary scientific Congress this will be achieved most easily (and in line with the general objectives of the Forum) by organizing a type of conferences new to Germany, which have gained considerable attention in the international debate about »Public Understanding of Science", namely conferences in which the opinions of the lay public are contrasted with those of experts, so-called consensus conferences.

Consensus conferences are an attempt to introduce into discussions about the societal impact and the problems of new technologies the knowledge of, and evaluation by, the lay public. In addition to the principle of consulting the public at large, also the public character of the event, and the parliamentary agencies to which it is addressed, are characteristics of consensus conferences. Consensus conferences are held to start a broad public debate about a subject of technology policy and, in this way, contribute to formulating a political line. Consensus conferences thus offer the best preconditions for establishing the Forum as a central place for scientific-public-political discussions. The topics represented in the exhibition area, in accordance with current planning, would offer the best preconditions for being taken up at conferences for the public at large. Some of these topics are discussed controversially in the public and have already given rise to problems of political and legal regulation or are likely to do so in the future.

Scientific Unit

With respect to the fundamental idea underlying the Forum for Science and Technology, the research unit is to establish a profile of the Forum as a renowned scientific center of discussion about science and technology in Germany. If the Forum is to be recognized nationally as a platform of communication of science and the public, it must establish itself as a competent partner, if not a focus of scientific research in matters associated with its guiding principle. Unbiased evaluation of the Forum's activities (in the exhibition and meetings sectors), the necessary further development of the activities of the Forum and of its underlying concept, the need to establish a profile of the Forum as a place of innovation where expert and lay cultures can meet, the necessary acceptance of the Forum as a partner for discussions with science, industry, politics, and societal initiatives, and the need to keep the Forum up to date both in terms of topics and didactic principles, all require in-house scientific competence and research, close links with teaching and in-career training and in-house publications.

The proposal therefore includes the establishment of an in-house research unit within the Forum for Science and Technology which would primarily be concerned with problems in a field of research currently receiving much international attention, namely »Public Understanding of Science". In addition to carrying out research activities the Forum through its scientific unit, could build a reputation for itself by publications, e.g. the publication of a scientific journal on the subject of "Public Understanding of Science« (which is still missing in Germany) by organizing congresses, and through activities in scientific instruction and in-career training (e.g. for journalists).

Cost/Funding

The funds required for the Forum, were studied for each individual element of the Forum for one complete version (basic version) of each element, and for one minimal version, respectively. The establishment and expansion of the Forum is estimated to be completed by 2006, it being assumed that the so-called »engine-shed« and most of the exhibition area (except for the areas designed for alternating exhibitions) will be completed by 2000.

• The staff of the Forum will have to be around sixty persons, under the assumption that the technical development of the exhibitions will be outsourced.
• The financial requirement of the Forum will reach a maximum in the year 2000 (because of the costs arising for the completion of the hall and for setting up the exhibitions), amounting to approx. DM 34 million in the basic version and DM 23 million in the minimal version.
• At the final stage of expansion of the Forum, the financial requirement (personnel, rent of the engine shed, etc.) in 2006 will amount to approx. DM 19.4 million in the basic version and DM 15.6 million in the minimal version. These figures already include DM 11.6 million of income for the basic version and DM 7.4 million for the minimal version, which have been deducted.
• In the light of experience accumulated in existing science centers and of research of the expert consultant commissioned to draft the financial concept, it may be assumed, also in the long term, that roughly one third of the running costs can be covered by income arising to the Forum (entrance fees, sales in the museum shop, etc.) and another third from sponsoring. One third of the cost would thus have to be covered by public funds.

In principle, these calculations are meant as a starting point for further plans for the Forum and for identifying those factors which could be likely to reduce the overall costs. In case the features of the Forum were to be reduced (exhibition area, personnel, etc.), as provided for in the minimal scenario, it would have to be taken into account that such diluted version might not justify the Forums claim to national importance.