I develop and conduct research projects that deal with social, political and ethical aspects of science, innovation and new technology. In in particular, I focus on conflicts over and the governance of new technologies such as biotechnology or nanotechnology. A recurrent theme of my research is the evolving interlinkage of national, trans- and supranational processes. Most projects are therefore comparative or lead me into spheres beyond the nation state. As these subjects invite reflection from a variety of angles and raise a multitude of questions, the various studies I have carried out touch on a number of issues: democracy, public opinion, media research, governance, technology assessment, public participation and deliberation, the role of risk assessment and science in regulation, international political economy, contention over the rural space, EU integration, multi-level politics, comparative political research, the operation of social movements in national, trans- and supranational arenas, and recently, agency of the social sciences in the governance of new and emerging technologies (see next point). Some of my studies reflect current debates, others deal with more fundamental questions of basic social research, and are mostly curiosity driven. I use and if possible combine quantitative and qualitative methods and do research in German (my mother tongue), English, French and Spanish. I write in German and English. I am consistently engaged in communicating my research to the broader public.
Current projects
Firstly, I am working on a book on what I tentatively call the Academic Reform Movement in the Governance of Science, Technology and Innovation, and how this movement made use of a window of opportunity that opened up when nanotechnology became a top priority of research funding around the world – and later closed down again. Concretely, this movement consists of social scientists, academics, scholars, who try to “make a difference“ in the governance of technology and innovation trajectories, that is, to induce tangible change in policy making by means of their academic expertise and other strategies in a policy/governance environment. I apply a movement frame to make sense of social scientists who engage in the nano governance field and particularly emphasize the academic movement’s multi-, trans- and supranational character. Among the materials I use is a number of in-depth interviews with key actors, a qualitative analysis of the socio-ethical literature on nanotechnology and a bibliometric sample.
Secondly, I work on expanding my work on protest movements to include the anti-vax movements that emerged during the Corona crisis and current waves of climate change activism.
Some completed independent Projects
From 2016 to 2021, I led the project The deliberative turn in the nanotechnology policy field supported by the Austrian Science Fund. Today, policies of technological innovation are accompanied by measures to foster public participation and deliberation, especially if they are believed to raise ethical problems or provoke public controversy. The study asks how this ‘deliberative turn’ has come to pass in the nanotechnology policy field. From this thematic strand so far followed theoretical notes, an international exploration of the “nano-watch movement” and its links to the anti-GM movement, reflections on democracy and deliberation, and an editorial project on policy expectations (hype) and governance. My current book project builds on my previous work on nanotechnology.
From 2009 to 2013, I led the project Transnational movements beyond the state? The case of the European anti-GM movement supported by the Austrian Science Fund. The project’s focus was on anti-GMO movements’ national and transnational dimensions. I conducted field research among radical anti-GMO activists in France, Germany, Spain and the UK and set up a comprehensive, multi-national quantitative data base on anti-GMO protest events over twenty years. I published studies on trans-border radical activism, national specificities in protest movements and movement Europeanization.
From 2003 to 2006, I directed the project The Austrian Biotechnology Conflict in the World funded by the Austrian Science Fund. Research trips brought me to Brussels, France, the U.S., and Japan. I published studies on democracy, consensus conferences, multi-level politics in the EU, the synchronization of national mass publics in the EU polity, and distinct national movements.
From 2000 to 2001, I led the project Gentechnik – Öffentlichkeit – Demokratie supported by the Austrian Academy of Science. From this project resulted a comprehensive account of Austria’s GMO-controversy from the point of view of democratic theory.
Occasionally, and usually upon request, I teach. I did so at the University of Vienna and more recently at the University of Innsbruck. I would like to teach more, so contact me if you are interested.
I have acted as a reviewer for the European Journal of Political Research; Big Data & Society; NanoEthics; Österreichische Zeitschrift für Soziologie; Österreichische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft; Organization & Environment; Public Understanding of Science; Social Movement Studies; Social Science & Medicine; Sociologica ruralis; Technology in Society;