Oliver Thränert: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Name	Dr. Oliver Thränert
Name variants	Oliver Thraenert
Address	Schweiz.- u. Int. Sicherheitspol. ETH Zürich, IFW B 49.2 Haldeneggsteig 4 8092 Zürich SWITZERLAND
E-mail	oliver.thraenert@sipo.gess.ethz.ch
Department	Humanities, Social and Political Sciences
Relationship	Lecturer

Number	Title	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
851-0594-04L	One Study, Two Paths: The Dual-Use Dilemma in the Life Sciences Particularly suitable for students (from Bachelor 3rd year onwards) of D-BIOL, D-CHAB, D-HEST Maximum number of participants limited to 26	3 credits	2S	M. Gemünden, O. Thränert
Abstract	Research and technologies emerging from the life sciences bring beneficial aspects to our society but also unforeseeable risks regarding the biosafety and biosecurity. In this course, students will learn about the advances in science and technology and their implications for society and international treaties (BWC or CWC) and their social, ethical and legal responsibilities as life scientists.
Learning objective	The rapid developments in the life- and associated sciences have the potential to yield enormous benefits to our society. However, those new and emerging technologies additionally bring along predictable and unforeseeable risks for the biosafety and biosecurity areas. The ability of life- and associated scientist professionals to critically assess their own research is a crucial aspect to maintain research integrity against the background of novel security concerns arising from the speed of advancements in this scientific field. In this course, students will learn more about their social, ethical and legal responsibilities as life scientists. With a combination of lectures and a team-based learning model, we want to raise the awareness of researchers towards biosecurity and biosafety risks emerging from research in the life sciences and generate a basic understanding about what scientists can do to minimize a potential misuse in highest-risk research (=“dual use research of concern”). During short lectures, partly prepared by the students themselves, the students will learn about the threat of biological warfare, biological terrorism and the international prohibition regimes; the dual-use dilemma and social responsibilities of scientists; the national implementation of the biological and toxins weapons convention and about efforts to build the web of prevention against misuse of life sciences. To get a better understanding of real world applications of biosecurity and biosafety measures in the scientific and policy communities and to foster future collaborations between these fields we will invite guest speakers actively engaged in scientific research and from the policy world.
853-8002-00L	The Role of Technology in National and International Security Policy	3 credits	2G	A. Wenger, A. Dossi, M. Haas, M. Leese, O. Thränert
Abstract	The lecture gives an introduction to the role of security and military technologies in the formulation and implementation of national and international security policies. The focus is on the challenges posed by new and developing technologies, the change in military capacities, and the question of regulation.
Learning objective	The participants get an in-depth overview of the diverse areas in which technology becomes part of security policy and security practices, both in civil and military contexts.
Content	Der erste Teil befasst sich mit den vielgestaltigen und komplexen Beziehungen zwischen Konzepten nationaler und internationaler Sicherheit, der Förderung von Forschung und Entwicklung, ökonomischen Aspekten von Technologie, und Aussenpolitik und Diplomatie. Der zweite Teil behandelt die Auswirkungen von neuen Technologien auf militärische Kapazitäten, strategische Optionen, und Militärdoktrinen in Krieg und Frieden. Der dritte Teil konzentriert sich auf regulatorische Herausforderungen, die aus der Implementierung und der globalen Weiterverbreitung von Technologie resultieren. Der letzte Teil schliesslich beschäftigt sich mit den Herausforderungen für den Staat im Umgang mit neuen und noch in der Entwicklung befindlicher Technologien, vorrangig in den sensiblen Bereich der Rüstungsbeschaffung und des nachrichtendienstlichen Einsatzes.
Literature	Literatur für die einzelnen Sitzungen wird auf Moodle bereitgestellt.
Prerequisites / Notice	The lecture is being supported by a website on Moodle. If you have any questions, please contact Julia Hofstetter, julia.hofstetter@sipo.gess.ethz.ch.