05: Scientific Excellence and Social Responsibility – How do they go together?

Complex social problems such as demographic change or energy transition are challenging science. They cannot be dealt with without scientific expertise and rely on interdisciplinary knowledge. In science today, however, it is mainly “Excellence” which is rewarded, a criterion based on the quality standards found within individual disciplines. How can we overcome this tension between the individual and the collective? This seminar provides an overview of the current discussions and alternatives.