TUM Brussels: Technology for society – are we getting it right?

With a small audience on-site and a large crowd online, TUM and its five partners within the EuroTech Universities Alliance celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Alliance on November 10. The anniversary slogan Empowering Society came to life in a set of inspiring discussions during this years’ High-level Event. “Technology for society – are we getting it right?” This question served as a leitmotiv, which the speakers tackled from very different angles.

[Translate to en:] Foto von vier Panelisten und der Moderatorin auf der Bühne — TUM alumna Nina Zuber was one of the speakers at the EuroTech High Level Event 2021. Photo: Eric Berghen

Three representatives of TUM in front of the visual of the EuroTech High Level Event 2021 — TUM Brussels liaison officer Maria-Valerie Schegk, alumna Nina Zuber, and TUM Vice President for International Alliances and Alumni Prof. Juliane Winkelmann at the EuroTech event in Brussels. Photo: Eric Berghen

What responsibilities do researchers have? Do they ask the necessary questions? Do we have the right policies to ensure that technology is developed with and for society? These and other exciting talking points at the EuroTech High Level Event 2021 attracted a total of more than 200 participants. 50 people were present in Brussels and more than 170 people followed on the livestream.

In addition to representatives from NGOs, European institutions, startups and of course the other EuroTech universities, TUM alumna Nina Zuber brought her views to the stage for TUM. The complete list of speakers can be found on the EuroTech website.

Speaking from the perspective of a mechanical engineering student, she made it clear that topics such as ethics, social acceptance, and the responsible use of new technologies need to be integrated even more strongly into current and future curricula. Lifelong learning can also make an important contribution here to bringing engineers up to date with developments and making them aware of their social responsibility again and again in the course of their professional lives.

Hybrid format as a success

Participants were actively involved in the discussion, could ask questions and comment via the interactive chat platform Sli.do. The combination of a small audience on site due to the current Corona measures and a larger audience via livestream has proven to be a successful model and will certainly be used again in the future.

If you are interested in the other positions brought forward and the wider discussions on the topic of technology development with and for greater society, please watch the recording on EuroTech’s YouToube channel. The EuroTech High Level Event was part of this year's TUM Global Dialogue Series, where all TUM branches around the world launch vibrant discussions on timely topics.

If you are interested in this and other activities of TUM Brussels, please contact Maria-Valerie Schegk.

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