History of the Ethics Center
2024
Research groups at the Ethics Center
Today, the Ethics Center hosts six research groups: 1. Co-laborative research and innovation, 2. Ethics and education, 3. Media ethics, philosophy of technology & AI, 4. Nature and sustainable development, 5. Robotics and AI and 6. Security ethics, with over 30 projects. These are implemented in a forward-looking and goal-oriented manner by more than 50 staff members.
2023
New board: Jessica Heesen, Thomas Potthast, and Urban Wiesing
We bid farewell to Regina Ammicht Quinn as long-standing spokesperson and welcome Jessica Heesen as a new board member. Thomas Potthast continues his role as spokesperson of the Ethics Center.
2015
IZEW Celebrates its 25th anniversary
In 2015, IZEW celebrated 25 highly successful years. The anniversary was marked with a ceremonial event and a commemorative volume: Ethics in the Sciences – 1 Concept, 25 Years, 50 Perspectives.
2014
Regina Ammicht Quinn and Thomas Potthast become new spokespersons of IZEW
In December 2014, Prof. Dr. Regina Ammicht Quinn and Prof. Dr. Thomas Potthast succeeded Prof. Dr. Dr. Urban Wiesing as spokespersons of IZEW.
2011
Urban Wiesing appointed new spokesperson of IZEW
In January 2011, Prof. Dr. Dr. Urban Wiesing, Chair of Ethics in Medicine and Director of the Institute for Ethics and History of Medicine, succeeded Prof. Dr. Eve-Marie Engels after 10 years as IZEW spokesperson.
2010
Constitution of the International Advisory Board
In 2010, the newly established International Advisory Board of IZEW was constituted.
2009
Renaming of IZEW to “International Center for Ethics in the Sciences”
In line with its increasing international orientation and networking, IZEW reflected this in its name. From then on, it has been known as the International Center for Ethics in the Sciences.
2004
Graduate College “Bioethics”
The Graduate College Bioethics was built upon the successful work of the former Graduate College Ethics in the Sciences. The program encompassed projects involving 51 PhD and 11 postdoctoral fellows and, with two extensions, was funded up to its maximum duration until 2013.
2001
Introduction of the Ethico-Philosophical Core Curriculum (EPG)
In 2001, the Ethico-Philosophical Core Curriculum (EPG) was introduced into teacher training for secondary education (GymPO) in Baden-Württemberg.
The EPG was primarily developed at IZEW. The EPG coordination office at IZEW organized and coordinated the curriculum, advised lecturers and students, and accompanied the EPG in research activities.
2001
Eve-Marie Engels becomes new spokesperson
In November 2001, Prof. Dr. Eve-Marie Engels, chair of Ethics in the Life Sciences, succeeded Prof. Dr. Dietmar Mieth after 16 years in leadership of IZEW and its predecessor institutions.
1998
Women’s Advancement Award of the University of Tübingen
In December 1998, IZEW received the Women’s Advancement Award of the University of Tübingen. The award recognized the high proportion of women among staff, family-friendly policies, and innovative research and discussions in the Feminist Ethics working group.
1991
Graduate College “Ethics in the Sciences”
With funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Graduate College Ethics in the Sciences made research in scientific ethics nationally visible. The program ran for the maximum funding period of nine years until September 2001 and produced 18 doctoral and habilitation theses.
1990
Founding of the Interfaculty Center for Ethics in the Sciences (IZEW)
IZEW was founded in 1990 by expanding the existing research unit, following a recommendation by the Baden-Württemberg state parliament. This included building a comprehensive database and specialized library and establishing central ethics professorships: the chair of Ethics in the Life Sciences and the chair of Ethics in Medicine. The first spokesperson was Dietmar Mieth.
1986
Establishment of the research unit “Ethics in the Natural Sciences”
Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Dietmar Mieth, the research unit institutionalized interdisciplinary exchange on scientific ethical responsibility and promoted it through conferences, publications, and the first interdisciplinary research and teaching activities.
This unique model in Germany allowed natural scientists for the first time to qualify in their discipline through work on ethical questions.
1985
Founding of the discussion group “Ethics in the Natural Sciences”
The discussion group Ethics in the Natural Sciences (renamed Ethics in the Sciences in 1990) created the first forum at the University of Tübingen for interdisciplinary dialogue on ethical questions among researchers and helped raise awareness for issues in scientific ethics.