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2017/18 ISSUE
62
RESEARCH MAGAZINE
Main Topic:
Human ‒ Machine
Cooperation
1
Editorial
Dear Readers,
Watching a video, going through moral and ethical standards; legal ex- sea and the climate. Marine researcher
your emails or taking a nap while your pert Jürgen Taeger and political scien- Oliver Wurl and his working group are
self-driving car brings you safely to tist Markus Tepe examine gaps in the studying the exchange of gases bet-
your next appointment – this futuris- current legal provisions; and computer ween the atmosphere and the water.
tic vision is already becoming mani- scientist Susanne Boll and social scien-
fest. The first autonomous buses are tist Gesa Lindemann explain how to The world of the outer surface of hu-
now driving on German roads and the optimise cooperation between human man beings – i.e. the skin, our largest
automation of society in general is and machines. sensory organ – is something Ulrike
advancing in leaps and bounds: from Raap knows plenty about. For the der-
[Anzeige] refrigerators that restock themselves
to digital factories and networked dia-
Another major topic of our times is
religion. We spoke to Joachim Willems
matologist the diversity of her field is
“a dream come true”.
gnostics for saving more lives. to find out why the educationalist sees
interreligious competence as a “key Last but not least, Oldenburg sports
Oldenburg scientists are studying qualification in the 21st century”. scientists are researching “feigned
this trend intensely – from both tech- throws” in handball. In a series of
nological and ethical perspectives, loo- We also introduce you to economist photos we show how players’ move-
king, for example, at the question of Stephanie Birkner. She holds Germa- ments are represented in a 3D model
how to programme machines to make ny’s first and only “Female Entrepre- that reveals the patterns of a deceptive
the right decisions. This new issue of neurship” junior professorship and is manoeuvre.
Einblicke offers exciting insights: in an researching how female entrepreneur-
interview the two computer scientists ship can strengthen the economy and We wish you a most enjoyable read!
Werner Damm and Martin Fränzle talk society.
about current challenges and goals;
philosopher Mark Siebel and neuropsy- Our reportage takes a closer look at Yours,
chologist Jochem Rieger discuss basic relationship between the surface of the the EINBLICKE editors.
2 EINBLICKE 2017/18 3
List of Contents
14
Staying flexible: Professor of religious education Joachim Willems On human-machine coexistence
21 Complex processes on the sea surface
32 Sport in the 3D lab: How variable are movements?
36
3 Editorial Main Topic 27 Understanding Each Other 40 Layer by Layer, Cell by Cell
Susanne Boll and Gesa Lindemann are exploring how For Ulrike Raap the skin is an architectural
to improve human-machine communication masterpiece
7 The Number 16 When Machines Decide
Clothes as time’s witness: the “Everyday Textile As automation forges ahead, what opportunities
Culture” collection and risks does it bring? And how far on is the 30 Living Labs 44 UGO News, Imprint
research? An interview with Werner Damm and Oldenburg computer scientists are testing reality in
Martin Fränzle six “living labs”
8 Innovation Sets the Pace 46 New Appointments
In the world of work and start-ups female skills are
in growing demand. Stephanie Birkner on “female 21 Moral Dilemma 32 A Fascinating Surface
entrepreneurship” Mark Siebel and Jochem Rieger discuss ethical The sea’s surface has been ignored by climate 50 Doctorates, Habilitations
standards for autonomous systems research until now. Oliver Wurl is studying how
important the “skin” of the oceans really is
10 Research Update
24 For the Good of Humankind
Who shoulders the responsibility as computers 36 In Pictures
14 Letting Your Views be Challenged encroach on our lives? Jürgen Taeger and Markus The “feigned throw” in sport
Professor of religious education Joachim Willems on Tepe are looking for legal and political answers
interreligious competence in daily life
4 EINBLICKE 2017/18 5
The Number
2,596
[Anzeige] The “Everyday Textile Culture“collection at
the Institute of Material Culture comprises
articles of clothing and textile objects.
I
t also features around 4,800 docu- of clothing have been worn and some
ments, 400 fabric samples and 50 show clear traces of usage. Whenever
historical natural dyes. new items are donated to the collec-
tion, in addition to the objects them-
The collection has steadily grown since selves the institute also documents
it was first set up 38 years ago. Students the stories and memories attached to
and staff can use items from the collec- them because they reveal many things
tion as work materials and for study about a certain era and its cultural and
and research projects. social context. What gender and body
images prevailed at the time? How was
The collection has plenty of oddities clothing cared for and stored? What
and rare items to offer: from designer social function did clothing fulfil at
clothes by the experimental label the time?
Comme de Garçons to a Klepper rain-
coat from the 1920s that testifies to the In addition, the students and staff at
development of the first rubber-coated the institute are conducting research
waterproof clothing and a 1990s jersey into materials development and sus-
from German football team Borussia tainability discourses, the history of
Dortmund with high levels of harmful costume and design, changes in gen-
chemicals. It also features articles of der and body perception and tex-
normal, everyday clothing. The collec- tile practices, from the ways in which
tion‘s „Clothing and Stories“ concept clothes are cared for to the culture of
is unique in Germany. All the articles remembrance and dressing habits.
Portrait
she also teaches at Regensburg Uni- nary science is the only approach that other words in promoting intention
versity, coaches entrepreneurs and makes sense to me.” and competence in entrepreneurial
is involved in numerous projects and Birkner explains that her junior pro- thinking and acting,” Birkner says.
committees. Her packed daily schedule fessorship is designed around two cen- The health sector is ideal for this be-
calls for highly developed improvisa- tral concepts: entrepreneurship and cause the majority of its workers are
tional skills. But Birkner takes it all in “female”. But in her understanding en- women, which means there are plenty
her stride. “I mean, what would be the trepreneurship means more than just of potential beneficiaries of entrepre-
point of being a junior professor for fe- starting up a business in order to deve- neurial support, she explains. What’s
male entrepreneurship if I didn’t have a lop and pursue new business models. more, the health industry is becoming
creative approach to challenges?” Still, Entrepreneurs, she believes, are people more and more economically relevant.
she emphasizes that there is plenty of who identify a problem and have the “Experts predict that the key innova-
room for improvement when it comes confidence to develop and implement tions of the twenty-first century will
to supporting young women in science solutions to it – whether this involves be in the field of psychosocial health,”
and the start-up world. pursuing the economic objective of Birkner says. “The still male dominated
building up a company (entrepreneur- start-up world needs to discover the
Linking two established ship), making an established company more female-dominated health indus-
more innovative (intrapreneurship), try as a key innovation field. I would
areas of research or aiming at changing society to the like to find out how to best foster these
better. Her approach to the word “fe- processes.”
Her journey into academia began male” is similar: for Birkner it goes
with a degree in Business Consulting far beyond the biological sex. “In my Upgrading “typically
at Emden. After completing her doc- definition ‚female’ applies to anybody
torate at the University of Oldenburg with a female attitude to things. I am
female“ skills
she took up an acting professorship for interested in whether there is such
Business Economics at the Jade Uni- thing as a female entrepreneurial spi- Innovations on the labour market
versity of Applied Sciences. In October rit, regardless of biological sex,” the inform her third field of research: digi-
Is there a feminine approach to founding start-ups? Stephanie Birkner hopes to find out.
2014 Birkner became Germany’s first academic explains. tal transformation. “As I see it, it looks
Junior Professor for Female Entrepre- In order to find answers here, Birk- increasingly likely that as ‚typically
neurship at Oldenburg University’s De- ner and her team prioritize explora- female’ considered abilities such as
partment of Business Administration, tive research designs. For example, in communication and social skills are
Innovation
Economics and Law. “I like the agile interview studies the research focus is going to increase in value,” Birkner
environment of an Entrepreneurial on finding out more about the context says. As she points out, in nearly all
University,” she says, referring to the that triggered the intention to launch branches digitalization is ushering in
EXIST 2011 competition in which the a start-up, as well as the challenges ta- cultural change; it is strengthening
Sets the Pace
University made It to the top three ken on and experienced in this process. the principle of globally linked labour
alongside the Technical University of The first result: entrepreneurs who fit network – the focus is increasingly on
Berlin and the Munich University of the “female” profile are more interes- collaboration, and “egotistical movers
Applied Sciences. This is why Birkner ted in finding meaning in what they and shakers” are no longer in lead. Fe-
works closely with University’s start- do. “They measure success according male entrepreneurship, with its focus
up and innovation centre (GIZ). She to whether they can change something on qualitative success measures, can
Stephanie Birkner holds Germany‘s only junior professorship for “Female Entrepreneurship“. also attaches particular importance to qualitatively, whereas characteristical- position itself perfectly here.
Her research looks at how female entrepreneurs can inspire business and society – beyond international exchange. ly male entrepreneurs measure suc- Three research fields with very
At the beginning of her junior pro- cess according to quantitative growth different demands – Birkner’s junior
women‘s quotas and STEM funding
fessorship Birkner faced the challenge factors such as money. This applies professorship is in itself an exercise
of having to combine two established particularly to patriarchy-dominated in entrepreneurial thinking and ac-
research fields – entrepreneurship- sectors such as the tech industry,” Birk- tion. She meets the challenges with
and gender studies. “I did a form of ner explains. female entrepreneurial spirit – just as
It’s Pippi Longstocking. If you ask rial girl I know,” Birkner says. In her When the economist talks about pioneering work, looking for paths In addition to the tech industry Pippi Longstocking would: “I have ne-
Professor Dr Stephanie Birkner, Junior view Pippi stands for everything that herself it soon becomes clear that she between both worlds,” she explains. Birkner’s research currently focus- ver done this before so I am absolutely
Professor for Female Entrepreneurship defines entrepreneurial thinking and herself has plenty of Pippi Longsto- Gradually a research design began to ses on the health industry and digi- sure I can do it!” Accordingly, Birkner
about a role model for a female entre- acting: openness, considering things cking’s traits. The 36-year-old has two emerge that was deliberately applica- tal transformation. “Here I let myself would like to see a culture that is more
preneur, she will tell you it’s the cheeky out of the box and having the will to children, a husband who works in the tion-oriented. “My research field is all be guided by the question of where I open to mistakes not only in the aca-
little girl in Astrid Lindren’s children’s develop ideas of one’s own when pro- Netherlands – and a junior professors- about transfer and practical applica- can make the most changes through demic world, but also in the start-up
books. “She is the most entrepreneu- blems arise. hip in a new research field. On the side tion. Multi-methodical, transdiscipli- entrepreneurship education, in world. (bb)
8 EINBLICKE 2017/18 9
Research Update
Agriculture and horticulture south of the Sahara Longitude – no problem for migratory birds So that new
knowledge benefits all
How can small-scale ecological agri- the project, which is coordinated by problems such as insecure or unclear Migratory birds are able to orientate of scientists have shown through ex-
culture succeed in the increasingly Oldenburg economist Professor Dr. land-use rights, lacking political ac- with astounding accuracy, using the periments with reed warblers (Acro- To intensify exchange with busines-
urbanized regions south of the Sa- Bernd Siebenhüner. ceptance, soil, water and air pollution, position of the sun, the stars and the cephalus scirpaceus) that the birds ses, society, public authorities and cul-
hara? In the new project ECOSOLA, The rapid advance of urbanization in inadequate water supplies and major Earth’s magnetic field. Until now this can detect magnetic declination. In tural institutions and thus boost inno-
scientists from the University of Ol- many areas of Sub-Saharan Africa po- damage caused by flooding. The scien- is how scientists have explained birds’ other words, the birds identify the vation in the region – this is the stated
denburg together with African part- ses serious problems for its societies. tists working on the ECOSOLA project ability to determine their north- angle between magnetic north and aim of the knowledge transfer project
ner universities and other partners African cities like Nairobi (Kenya), Kin- plan to focus on a number of ecological south position, but how they are able true north. The researchers presen- „Innovative Hochschule Jade-Olden-
from the field are studying the exis- shasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) business models and develop concrete to determine their east-west position ted the results in the online edition of burg!” run by Oldenburg University
ting conditions and future options and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) are gro- solutions for urban farming in Africa. has remained one of the biggest mys- the prestigious science journal Cur- and the Jade University of Applied
for urban agriculture in Tanzania wing at breakneck speed and displa- Siebenhüner’s working group “Eco- teries in the field of migratory bird rent Biology. According to Mouritsen Sciences. This is Lower Saxony’s only
and South Africa. ECOSOLA stands cing the rural-agricultural economic logical Economy” and the “Landscape research for decades. Now Prof. Dr. the results shed a whole new light on approved project in the „Innovative
for Ecosystem-based Solutions for systems that surround them. At the Ecology” working group led by Olden- Henrik Mouritsen of the University of scientists’ ideas about how birds na- Hochschule” funding initiative, and
Resilient Urban Agriculture in Af- same time, small-scale farms and hor- burg ecologist Professor Dr. Michael Oldenburg and an international team vigate. the researchers on the project have ap-
rica. The German Federal Ministry ticultural businesses have established Kleyer are collaborating closely with plied to receive approximately 11 mil-
of Education and Research and the themselves in Africa’s cities and are the University of Dar es Salaam and lion euros in funding from federal and
German Academic Exchange Service making an important contribution the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Uni- regional governments until 2022. The
will provide around 800,000 euros in to feeding their populations. The far- versity (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) in Music builds bridges project aims to systematically harness
funding over the next three years for mers, however, are struggling with the project. new target groups, partnerships, pa-
Music activates the brain and produces tions such as singing or playing music thways and spaces for the transfer of
happiness hormones, has therapeu- for promoting cultural integration. knowledge.
tic effects, lowers aggression and pro- The study also aims to provide gui- The ambitious transfer project is di-
motes mental and social development dance for the development of specific vided into seven sub-projects: „Schü-
in the young. The latter aspect is the educational initiatives promoting the lerWissen” aims to inspire young
focus of the three-year joint project cultural integration of refugees. While people to tackle scientific research
“Musical Interventions for the Sustai- the Frankfurt researchers are focussing problems. „KarriereWege” focuses on
ned Integration and Cultural Partici- on young men still living in refugee the transition from university to the
pation of Children and Youths with Re- centres, the Oldenburg researchers led professional world. The „Innovation(s)
fugee Backgrounds” (MINUTE), which by musicologist Professor Dr. Gunter Werkstatt” offers start-ups and esta-
will receive a total of 250,000 euros in Kreutz are concentrating on primary blished business professionals a space
funding from the Federal Ministry of school children from refugee families. to develop innovative ideas, while the
Education and Research until the end These children are taught in the same „ Innovation(s)Management” pro-
of 2019. class as local children and children ject is about systematically analysing
This joint project between the Goethe who have settled permanently in Ol- and mobilising innovation potential
University Frankfurt and Oldenburg denburg. Two hundred third-grade in the region. The sub-project „Inno-
University examines for the first time children from four Oldenburg primary vation(s)Labor digital” aims to de-
the potential of musical interven- schools are taking part in the study. velop practical applications to meet
the challenges of the digital age. Be-
hind the „Innovation(s)Mobil” are a
bus and a ship, both equipped with
Success in the Hyperloop competition innovative engine systems, which
as a „Showroom”, mobile communi-
The goal of the innovative “Hyper- round at the SpaceX headquarters in cations platform and experimental
loop” transportation system is to Hawthorne, California, the competi- workshop aim to boost innovation in
transport passengers at speeds of up tion’s organiser SpaceX awarded the the region. A comprehensive „Scien-
to 1,200 kilometres per hour. Students team its innovation prize, one of four ceBlog” will make the research activi-
at Oldenburg University and the Uni- prizes in total, for the sophisticated ties, results and innovations from the
versity of Applied Sciences Emden/ braking system it designed for its project accessible to wider audiences
Leer sent their prototype to compete prototype electromagnetic levitating and encourage feedback and discus-
in the Hyperloop Pod Competition II pod. During the competition, the Ol- sion. Finally, there is a „Lab-on-the-
Urban farming: Bat guano is used as fertilizer for mushrooms growing at an organic farm on the outskirts of the Tanzanian metropolis
initiated by SpaceX founder and Tesla denburg and Emden students expe- Web” in the pipeline where web-ba-
Dar es Salaam. On the basis of ecosystem-based business models like this one, the ECOSOLA project aims to provide concrete boss Elon Musk. Although they nar- rienced technical difficulties on the sed data from scientific studies can be
solutions for urban agricu Africa. rowly missed making it into the final test track. collected.
10 EINBLICKE 2017/18 11
Research Update
Junior research group Research training Hearing researchers continue along their successful path
“RightSeeds” group
The University has cleared the first tailored to the individual needs of pa- strand is to develop an entirely innova-
hurdle in the Excellence Strategy pro- tients across the spectrum of hearing tive systems technology for the hearing
Is the agricultural industry producing part of its Social Ecological Research Combinations of hydrocarbons – such gramme, the follow-up to the Excel- deficits. To this end they plan to bundle aids of the future, based on the Cluster’s
the right seeds for sustainable agricul- funding line. as crude oil or natural gas – are the ba- lence Initiative of the German Federal their work into four research strands scientific and technological findings.
ture? Can commons-based ownership Crop cultivation has developed into sis for countless products made by the Ministry of Education and Research reflecting on the one hand the chain A total of 25 neuroscientists, medics,
rights to plant species trigger an eco- a commercial system over the past chemical industry, from painkillers to and the German Research Foundation. of development from basic research psychologists, linguists, physicists and
logical and social revolution in crop 100 years, putting seed ownership in plastic packaging. How can direct reac- Its draft proposal for a Cluster of Ex- to hearing technology and on the ot- engineers from the universities of Ol-
production? These are the questions the hands of a handful of private cor- tions that otherwise occur only circui- cellence titled “Hearing4all: Research her the severity of the hearing impair- denburg and Hannover are involved
addressed by the junior research group porations. For ecological agriculture tously be induced in carbon-hydrogen for personalized treatment of hearing ment. The first strand aims to use the in the planned project. The Jade Uni-
“RightSeeds” headed by Professor Dr. in particular, the commons approach bonds? This question is the main focus deficits” has been selected to proceed to latest neuroscientific methods to gain versity of Applied Sciences, the Hör-
Stefanie Sievers-Glotzbach at the In- represents a viable alternative. The of the new research training group the full proposal stage. The Oldenburg a deeper understanding of the complex Tech GmbH company, the Hearing
stitute for Ecological Economics Re- scientists are examining initiatives, “Chemical bond activation” at the Uni- researchers developed their proposal interaction between hearing, percei- Centres in Oldenburg and Hannover,
search. The collaborative project with networks and companies that offer versity, which will receive around 3.5 together with hearing researchers ving and processing in the brain over the Fraunhofer Project Group Hearing,
the Department of Agricultural Eco- predominantly sustainable seed types, million euros in funding from the Ger- from Hannover based on the results of the course of a person’s lifetime. The Speech and Audio Technology and the
logy at the University of Göttingen, forego private patents and keep the man Research Foundation (DFG) for an the previous Cluster of Excellence. The second comprises IT-based research Fraunhofer ITEM institute are also pro-
the Institute for Ecological Economics cultivation process transparent. They initial period of four-and-a-half years. full proposal must be submitted to the aimed at constructing a virtual mul- ject partners. The coordinator for the
Research Berlin and other partners are also supporting a South-North ex- Answers to this question could poten- German Research Foundation by Fe- tilingual hearing clinic. In the third planned Cluster is Oldenburg physicist
from the field will be funded for five change between a commons-oriented tially save the chemical industry ma- bruary 2018, and the final decision will strand the researchers plan to develop and physician Professor Dr. Dr. Birger
years by the German Federal Ministry collective in the Philippines and Ger- terial, energy and time, pave the way be reached in September of next year. individually tailored diagnostics and Kollmeier. “Hearing4all” is one of the
for Education and Research (BMBF) as man initiatives and businesses. to new materials and drugs and help Building on the findings of the former treatments for patients with medium world’s leading centres for medical en-
to combat disastrous oil spills more ef- Cluster of Excellence the researchers to severe hearing impairment and full gineering, hearing research, audiology,
fectively. Twelve PhD candidates have want to develop solutions specifically deafness. The objective of the fourth medical diagnostics and therapy.
been conducting research in this futu-
Molecular fingerprint Data from re-oriented field since March, and as
created tidal flats many as twelve more doctoral students
from the participating research groups
A single altered gene in the human ge- The measuring station of the Institute at the Institute of Chemistry and the
nome can have a major impact. Macular for Chemistry and Biology of the Ma- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of
dystrophy, a disease which affects the rine Environment (ICBM) has been in the Marine Environment (ICBM) will
area of the retina where vision is shar- operation almost continuously for the join them on the project.
pest, can be traced back to precisely this past 15 years. Equipped with several Under the aegis of at least eleven pro-
type of point mutation. Researchers led different types of sensors and situated fessors the young scientists will study
by biochemists Professor Dr. Karl-Wil- in the straits between the islands of the activation of these otherwise relati-
helm Koch and Farina Vocke and wor- Spiekeroog and Langeoog, the station vely inert carbon-hydrogen bonds from
king together with human geneticists measures salinity levels, temperature different perspectives – for example
from Tübingen, Verona (Italy) and Phi- and the speed of sea currents among under the influence of specific cata-
ladelphia (USA) have now succeeded in other things. It operates around the lysts or bacteria that break down crude
identifying and studying a key gene in clock and in all weathers. Researchers oil. The aim is to develop and analyse
the genome of macular dystrophy pa- from a variety of disciplines are cur- new methods.
tients. The gene contains the blueprint rently using the station for different Research training groups support
for a protein that controls important research projects. These include the young scientists at universities. The
neurotransmitters in the cells of the BEFmate project, in which resear- aim of the DFG is to qualify doctoral
retina. Here, the researchers found clues chers are studying the biodiversity students, foster independent research
about how the defective protein disrupts and function of ecosystems, and the and prepare them for the complexities
cell functions. Based on these findings Citizen Science project “Macroplas- of “science” as a professional career.
they hope to be able draw conclusions tics”. The station was built for the DFG “Activating chemical bonds” is one of
about other types of retinal disease. The research group “Biogeochemistry of a total of seven DFG research training
results were published in the journal the Tidal Flats” in 2002 and was the groups currently underway at the Uni-
“Human Molecular Genetics.” first of its kind. versity of Oldenburg.
Virtual simulation of complex hearing environments: researchers use high-tech laboratories to develop customized hearing aids for
the full spectrum of hearing impairments.
12 EINBLICKE 2017/18 13
Portrait
genous, and nor are religions,” stresses larities allow him to draw conclusions and represented how the world works.
Willems, who has made extended visits beyond individual cases – which ta- Willems has come across similar ca-
to Russia throughout his career, where ken on their own as case studies also ses involving discussions about being
he also carried out the research for both highlight successes and shortcomings allowed to pray during school breaks.
of his dissertations. in interreligious coexistence and can During the REVIER project Willems
serve to increase awareness. also observed “how quickly Islam tends
A key qualification Willems cites the case of a 17-ye- to come up when people talk about
in the 21st century ar-old Muslim boy who recalled an religion”. With Islam, he notes, religi-
incident when his class was singing a ous practice becomes visible, and some
Whether the issue is the construc- Christmas carol during a music lesson. people only become aware of religion
tion of a mosque in a Christian neigh- As the boy tells it in the interview, a in this context, so only then does it
bourhood or the debate about school fellow pupil said to him: “Jesus Christ become a topic of discussion. He also
exams during Ramadan, “interreli- is born” in a provocative manner, as if sees this with his students, whose
gious competence is about being able to say: “Jesus Christ is in Christianity, interest in interreligious learning is
to analyse religious phenomena from see!” The response must have come particularly strong when it comes to
different perspectives,” says Willems. as a surprise. The Muslim boy said: Islam. Willems has employed an Islam
“This way I can adapt to situations “Well sure, I actually think it’s great scholar on his team. “Her seminars are
involving interreligious encounters– that we’re singing about it! He was a full,” he says.
without the way I react in such situa- prophet and did many good things. The
Be open-minded in a religiously plural world: “In addition to knowledge about religions we also need to acknowledge and understand
tions being predetermined.” Bible itself is one of God’s books, so it’s Encouraging students to
each other,“ says Joachim Willems.
This skill has become increasingly part of Islam.” adopt their own positions
important since the start of the new This scenario inspired Willems to
millennium: “Religion disappeared develop a concept for an RE lesson – For 43-year-old Willems the subject
from the radar for a long time, when including role playing on potential of his professorship, religious educa-
Letting Your Views
the focus was on breaking with tra- outcomes before the unexpected en- tion, goes beyond teaching religion
dition and secularisation. But around ding is revealed – and points to deve- to describe specific religious commu-
2001 – as a result of the 9/11 attacks lop in further lessons on Christianity, nication processes in different social
among other factors – it became a big Islam and interreligious encounters. contexts – not just in schools, but also
be Challenged
topic once more.” Willems explains: The father of two put this concept into for example within a church commu-
“When you watch the news or read a practice at a school complex in Berlin nity. Nonetheless, he sees schools as a
newspaper today, religion is the big where he taught during and after his key location for teaching religious and
issue. But often the focus is not our Habilitation. interreligious competence, “because
religion but the religion practised by The insights Willems gained from there is no other place where you can
others. And you realize that this needs the 30 interviews he analysed are mul- really reach everyone”.
Religion has become a huge social topic once more since the start of the millennium. How to be examined more in depth – be it tifaceted. Talking of his Muslim in- He finds subjective points of view
can we coexist peacefully in a religiously diverse world? Religion educationalist Joachim in sociology, educational science or terviewees, he observes: “Every one particularly important, comparing a
religious studies.” On the back cover of them is aware of the stereotypes religious education lesson that doesn’t
Willems is looking for answers
of his book on the theory of interreli- prevalent in the non-Islamic majority encourage pupils to develop their own
gious competence, he goes so far as to society and is able to constantly change position to “music lessons without the
describe it as a “key qualification in the perspective.” For example a school- experience of hearing, where the music
21st century”. girl wearing a headscarf who told him is only considered abstractly on the ba-
He was young and in love – these entering a monastery and learning to Interreligious competence: for the How do young people deal with reli- about a conversation with a teacher. sis of sheet music, lines and symbols”.
thoughts were the last thing he wan- meditate? doctor of theology and education re- gious plurality? This is a question Wil- The interesting aspect here, he says, He appeals to teachers as well as pupils
ted in his life at that point. Joachim Instead of going to live in a Bud- search this is a basic cultural skill that lems is examining in a project funded was that the “supposedly ‚pre-modern’ to allow themselves to be moved, and
Willems was studying Buddhism, dhist monastery, Prof. Dr. Dr. Joachim everyone needs in today’s religiously by the German Research Foundation and undemocratic schoolgirl defended even challenged – for instance by the
hardly an unusual activity for a stu- Willems, professor at the University’s pluralistic world. It goes beyond know- called “Religious Diversity: Experien- her right to wear a headscarf citing partly radical messages contained in
dent of theology, but for Willems it Institute of Lutheran Theology and ledge about different religions to en- cing it, Interpreting it, Evaluating individual freedoms, while the teacher, biblical stories – to clarify their own
became a defining experience. What if Religious Education since spring 2016, compass mutual awareness and, ideal- it” (abbreviated as REVIER). Through who sees herself as a representative of position on existential questions. In
he decided to pursue this philosophy? kept to his chosen path. But he has ly, mutual understanding, he explains. qualitative analysis of interviews with the legal, social and cultural system ba- the same way that he once allowed
Wouldn’t that mean calling into ques- never abandoned his intensive study It also means questioning whether Christian, Muslim, and non-religious sed on those very freedoms, denied the himself to be challenged by Buddhism.
tion his whole worldview and way of of different religions, and the topic of religion really is behind all those things teenagers aged 14 to 19 he is trying to girl these rights”. While the schoolgirl “Something happens with me as an in-
life? And by logical extension withdra- “interreligious competence” has be- people suspect, he adds. After all, each gain insights into their attitudes and was aware of the other point of view, dividual when I try to understand the
wing from that life in the quest for se- come the main focus of his research individual has their own character and worldviews. These views may not be Willems explains, the teacher was world, when I interact in the world –
renity; separating from his girlfriend, and teaching. background: “Cultures are not homo- representative, he explains, but simi- convinced that only her view counted that’s what education is all about.” (ds)
14 EINBLICKE 2017/18 15
Main Topic
When
Machines
Decide
Werner Damm (left) and Martin Fränzle: “These systems have to be programmed to comply with ethical norms.“
Cyber-physical systems will change the world in the Automation is advancing inexora- such as taxi, bus and truck driver will ching how to technically optimize me- Fränzle: A further research focus is
same way that the Internet has changed it, the two bly. Your work deals with the techno- disappear. dical care and aftercare. Take intensive the design of energy supplies. The fluc-
logical foundations of this process. care units, for example, where staff is tuations in the demand and supply of
computer scientists Werner Damm and Martin Fränzle Where is this journey going – and is Artificial intelligence seems to be confronted with a flood of information. electricity are constantly controlled
are convinced. Through this technology both everyday mankind making itself redundant only a matter of time. Where would In addition to the heartbeat there are and balanced out already. But this task
objects like refrigerators and complex systems like in the world of work? you draw the line? countless other vital parameters that is becoming increasingly complex due
Fränzle: That is a controversial issue Fränzle: The most important thing is indicate critical situations, but which to the rise in the supply of energy from
medical equipment and cars will be connected to in professional circles. Some experts to have clear guidelines. It’s fantastic often go “under the radar”. Indeed renewable sources. What we need is
intelligent control systems, communicate with one are convinced that this is indeed the if a computer can learn on its own in we know that 30 percent of deaths in systems that allow energy producers,
another and make their own decisions. The Oldenburg case and are therefore calling for a uni- order to assist us more and more in dif- post-operative phases could be avoided storage systems and consumers to
versal basic income. Others argue that ficult situations. But the system’s be- if personnel were in a position to cre- communicate with one another intel-
scientists are conducting research on the foundations historical evidence speaks against it. haviour has to remain predictable and ate a meaningful overall picture from ligently. The merging of the physical
of this technology and also working on an ethical They point to previous industrial revo- oriented towards responsible actions the vast amount of individual signals and virtual worlds can create entirely
concept for the machines to ensure that humanity is lutions, which instead created radically based on social consensus. Otherwise and the profound medical knowledge new possibilities for influencing this
new professional fields. we will have little use for the system. residing in large databases – with the incredibly complex system. Electric
well served Damm: One way or another, big chan- help, say, of intuitive interfaces. This cars as intermediate buffers for surplus
ges are imminent. In the field of trans- In what areas do you expect to see is a fantastic example of a meaningful energy or washing machines that turn
port, for example, where in the short most progress? way to collate information using cy- on when power becomes available are
or medium-term entire professions Damm: At the university we are resear- ber-physical systems. just the beginning.
16 EINBLICKE 2017/18 17
Prof. Dr. Werner Damm
A lecturer with Oldenburg University’s Department of Computing Science since
1987, Werner Damm is head of the Safety Critical Embedded Systems division and
Director of the Research Centre for Critical Systems Engineering. Damm established
the Transportation Research and Development Division at the University-affiliated
OFFIS Computer Science Institute and is also a member of its board. His work focuses
on methods for the mathematically exact verification and analysis of safety critical
embedded systems.
Damm: The third major area is auto- words, we know how automated sys- technology only makes sense if it serves
nomous driving with the aim of redu- tems need to be built in order to remain people and is accepted by them.
cing the number of accidents, using controllable. Apart from that we are
resources more efficiently and mini- currently involved in ENABLES3 … One way or another, the vehicle
mizing emissions. takes on a huge amount of respon-
An EU-funded project … sibility. Will automation really make
That is your focus. What exactly are Damm: Exactly. Focussed on the tes- roads safer?
you researching? ting of highly automated systems. In Damm: This is a controversial issue.
Damm: To name just one example: in this project we set up virtual test rigs Let’s just look at one statistic: around
Germany we are involved in a project in order to determine how an autono- 3,500 people die on German roads eve-
funded by the Federal Ministry of Eco- mous vehicle behaves in all conceiva- ry year. Due to human error – we get
nomics and Technology called Pegasus. ble scenarios. How well, for example, distracted or nod off, for example. So
It’s about developing test standards, in does the assessment of the situation of course automation is superior to
other words generally accepted me- operate, or the object identification? humans in this respect. Sensor sys-
thods and tools for testing highly-au- This means that even without test kilo- tems are always active, and situation
tomated vehicle functions. The focus metres on the road we can examine assessment is carried out on a perma-
is on systems that can take control whether and when a vehicle’s reactions nent basis. Already today we can see
for certain periods of time in specific are adequate. around corners using so-called virtual
situations. The idea is that the driver horizons. On this basis we can safely
shouldn’t have to monitor the techno- assume that the number of accidental
logy the whole time and is therefore “Technology only makes road deaths will drop significantly.
Scientists at Oldenburg University can test assistance functions for self-driving cars in the University‘s driving simulator.
free to temporarily focus on certain sense if it serves people“
other activities and side tasks. Werner Damm Mr. Damm, as a member of a working
Fränzle: That’s the first step. At some group for the ethics commission of
stage the driving will be left entirely to the Ministry of Transport, you have tection than things. Point two refers to perfect blueprints of our software and These systems have to be program-
the vehicle. Automation will ultimately turn car been involved in drafting guidelines the much-cited dilemma in which an hardware products. But when it comes med to comply with ethical norms, for
driving into a mobility service. Are on automated driving. What was the automated car has to decide between to semi-autonomous driving, our mo- example.
But surely not without the afore- people ready for this yet? objective here? two evils: does it drive into a group of dels can no longer be perfect because
mentioned test standards which the Fränzle: It depends. Are we talking Damm: The challenge with highly two people or of five? In other words, the systems have to take into account So that might be a question for phi-
industry needs if it is to put such au- about a situational autonomous dri- automated driving is that everything can human lives be weighed against human beings and their characteristics. losophy …
tonomous systems onto the streets? ving system that only takes care of that is otherwise decided by a human one another? The working group rejec- Representing these is a necessary prere- Fränzle: Exactly, because it’s about
Fränzle: The testing methods are in- motorway manoeuvres from after being is taken over by a vehicle, and ted this outright, in line with a decision quisite to analysis of the dynamic inter- making machines comply with the
deed a colossal challenge and they are entering via the slip road to just before this also goes for critical situations. by the Federal Constitutional Court on actions between people and machines. rules that govern human actions. In
also one of our focus areas. We want the exit? With such a system I maintain The behaviour of the system has to be airplane hijacking and a discussion connection with the question about
to know how we can design software my own driving skills, I can tray and programmed accordingly. Two of the about whether or not to issue a warrant the conditions under which certain
architectures and validation methods test the system and build trust. Or does central questions that we discussed to shoot it down. In such cases the life “Making machines comply actions are required or forbidden.
that meet the very high safety targets the car drive in fully automated mode? in the working group were therefore: of the passengers on board cannot be with the rules that govern Damm: Psychology, on the other hand,
automation requires and prove that Then I could put my children into the How can we design decision-making sacrificed to save the lives of a larger provides us with important approaches
human actions“
they have been met. car and tell it to drive them to music so that it is clearly comprehensible and group of people on the ground. for explaining human behaviour, such
Martin Fränzle
school. Here, people’s reservations will transparent for people? And how can as how can the technical system find
What does that mean exactly? be significantly higher. we be sure that the decisions comply These are highly complex questions out what a person intends to do? How
Damm: Take our just completed trans- Damm: On the whole, acceptance le- with society’s values? that certainly cannot be answered by So you also need input from others can its attention be directed to a cer-
regional collaborative research project vels depend heavily on the extent to computer scientists alone. fields, and the social sciences in par- tain problem? And how can a system
AVACS. Here we proved the safety of which a person can learn to trust the What results did the commission Fränzle: We are indeed in the midst of ticular? explain its decisions to people?
traffic applications in all three areas – vehicle’s autonomous driving func- arrive at? a paradigm shift. Before, as engineers Fränzle: That’s right, yes. Lessons lear-
cars, airplanes and trains – using ma- tion by selectively remaining ‘in the Damm: First of all, that people’s lives we were used to building and analy- ned from psychology, philosophy, so- What about the liability of autono-
thematical methods. So, in other loop’. It’s important to remember that are in principle more worthy of pro- sing systems models that represented ciology, and political and legal science. mous systems?
18 EINBLICKE 2017/18 19Main Topic
Prof. Dr. Martin Fränzle
Martin Fränzle has been a lecturer at Oldenburg University’s Department of Computing
Science since 2004 and is the head of the Hybrid Systems Division there. The computer
scientist is also a head of division and scientific director at the Transportation Research
and Development Division of the University-affiliated OFFIS Computer Science Insti-
tute. His main areas of research include mathematical models and the design, synthesis
and verification of safe embedded computer systems.
Damm: This is an important aspect – to comply with the framework of each So the challenges are immense …
and the situation is complex. After all, individual society? Damm: Yes. That’s why we’re wor-
safety-related driving decisions are not king together with lots of partners –
based solely on information that comes Is the necessary legal framework not only in research, but also from in-
from the vehicle itself, and for which already in place here? Is automated dustry. Fortunately in Germany the
the manufacturer shares responsibili- driving legal? climate for this is very constructive.
ty. Information is also transferred from Fränzle: Road traffic regulations have Ultimately we all ask ourselves similar
other vehicles via wireless communi- recently been updated to make it possible questions, such as what it means to use
cation. But what happens when the car to authorize self-driving vehicles. But only humane technology. Or how to inte-
in front of you perceives the world dif- on the condition that a legally traceable grate not only artificial intelligence
ferently and delivers false information? transfer of control between driver and into computer architecture, but also a
Or if communication lines are hacked? technical system takes place and the social conscience.
Another point is that the autonomous human driver remains in the loop. The
system needs up-to-the-second map timing is good because this type of vehicle So when will the first automated
updates – and these come from the is already in the development phase. cars start driving on German roads?
Cloud. Who checks that these maps Damm: The other good news is that Fränzle: For situationally autonomous
Autonomous systems such as self-driving cars take over important decisions for humans. But what if it‘s a matter of life or death? Is it
have not been tampered with? the European parliament has passed vehicles, we should be ready in three to at all possible to establish norms and programme systems to deal with such events?
Fränzle: Another aspect is that globally an important resolution stipulating five years. But for safe, fully-automated
implemented cyber-physical systems that whenever an autonomous sys- driving everywhere we need a lot more
have to comply with all country-spe- tem makes a decision that has safety time – and here even the most optimis-
cific contexts. Regulations for the pri- implications, it has to explain why it tic predictions from manufacturers
Moral Dilemma
vate sphere in Europe, for example, are took this or that action and also state vary in the extreme.
very different from those in the United the underlying principles. This gua-
States. How can we design these sys- rantees the necessary transparency Interview: Corinna Dahm-Brey,
tems so that their parameters adapt and prevents potential manipulations. Volker Sandmann
Autonomous systems capable of independent decision making are about to take over
our world. But on what basis? What underlying ethical rules are they following? It is this
human-machine interface that drives the research of philosopher Mark Siebel and
neuropsychologist Jochem Rieger
We live in a world in which deci- for decades as science fiction – has long lorry drivers when the lorries can drive
sion-making is being increasingly sur- been firmly anchored in the present. themselves? Or surgeons when robots
rendered to technical systems. When can operate much more precisely?
you park your car nowadays, your assis- New questions impact Whether we like it or not, the ad-
tant system guides you into the space. vance of technology gives rise to ques-
When you embark on a car journey, you society as a whole tions that impact society as a whole.
allow yourself be led by your navigation If machines are increasingly able to
system, trusting that it will find the For some the development of these make decisions for us and are learning
Will roads soon become data
right route. In the operating room ro- cyber-physical systems represents a how to react to unforeseen events, does
highways? In technological terms
self-driving cars are already highly bots assist surgeons, achieving a degree huge opportunity while others fear this not pose the threat of society lo-
developed, but legal and ethical of accuracy to a tenth of a millimetre. that automation will soon take over sing control? Is it possible to ever truly
issues remain unresolved. Technological development – ridiculed entire professional fields. Who needs understand why a machine has made
20 EINBLICKE 2017/18 21a decision? And to what extent do we cyber-physical system with additio- systems can expand the capacities and old philosophical question involving
want to surrender decision-making to nal information about the human and objectives within our reach as humans. a moral dilemma. The person who has
technical systems? Researchers from whether he or she will be ‚amenable’ “Society should stop being so pessimis- to make the decision is placed in an in-
different disciplines at the University to reaching a joint decision,” Rieger tic and seize the opportunity to make extricable double bind. Is it acceptable
of Oldenburg are looking for answers explains. It might also be possible to the most of human-machine coopera- to divert the tram onto another track
to these questions. “Because one thing determine which of the five senses the tion,” Rieger believes. where it would kill one person rather
is clear: if research and politics do not machine should best engage in order to This sounds plausible but would re- than killing several? This is the sort of
address the issue, industry will ultima- communicate effectively with its part- quire broad social acceptance, more dilemma an autonomous vehicle could
tely dictate the development,” Prof. Dr. ner at a given moment: “If the auditory precise system specifications and that find itself facing. How is an algorithm
Jochem Rieger firmly believes. And if channel is occupied because the person ethical standards are taken also into supposed to decide whether the car it
this happens, the cognitive neuropsy- is in a conversation, the system would account. “To put it simply, someone is steering should kill an 80-year-old in
chologist who researches human-ma- try to make contact via the visual chan- has to tell the system in advance which order to save the lives of five children?
chine cooperation doubts that society nel,” the scientist says. For human-cy- decisions are good or bad in different If you follow the reasoning of uti-
will be able to reconstruct and under- ber-physical-system cooperation to situations,” Prof. Dr. Mark Siebel from litarianism, one of the three main Mark Siebel: “Someone has to tell the system in advance which decisions are good or bad
stand how and why technical systems function, researchers must find a way the Institute of Philosophy explains. schools in ethics, the “net saving” of in different situations.“
take certain decisions. His research to integrate humans and machines This is the area where Rieger and Sie- five lives would justify the ending of
focus is the “perception, information in goal tracking and actions in a way bel’s interests intersect and where they one. “This is difficult because it involves
processing-cognition-action” cycle. that they will compensate for each can profit from each other’s know- weighing up one life against another.
“It is through this cycle that humans other’s weaknesses and combine their ledge. “We neuroscientists are mostly On the other hand, what alternatives “Cultural adaptation is something we the person was killed intentionally,
interact with their environment. We strengths. “Potentially people will then interested in the technical side. We do you have? The decision can hardly should not forget,” Siebel says. He ex- whether it was planned or committed
want to find out what exactly goes on be able to solve problems that are too take a system, put it into action and ask be left to a random number generator,” plains that although in Germany prio- with malice aforethought, or whether
in the brain here. Moreover, in this complex for them at the moment,” Rie- the humans who interact with the sys- Siebel says. No wonder then that the rity is given to a child’s wellbeing, other it happened due to unfortunate cir-
process decisions are a prerequisite ger says. Someone creating a produc- tem which actions they like and which “Ethics Commission on Automated cultures are more protective of old peo- cumstances. “The underlying reason
for interaction with the world.” His tion plan, for example, gains a better ones they don’t. But we won’t be able to and Connected Driving” set up by the ple, cows are holy, or goats are valued plays a major role for the evaluation, so
team measures brain activity to try overview of the production machines extract any ethical guidelines from the German Transport Minister Alexan- over dogs – all details that must be ta- it must also play a role in evaluating the
to predict mental states: whether a through interaction with a technical results. That’s where the philosophers der Dobrindt came to the conclusion ken into account when programming. consequences of the actions of autono-
person behind the wheel is exhausted, system, thus improving the working come in, because they are experts in- that the “computer colleague” behind Rieger goes one step further: “Autono- mous systems,” Rieger states. But he
stressed or cognitively overloaded. “If and production processes and saving ethical reflection,” Rieger explains. the wheel cannot solve difficult mo- mous driving systems like the ones we gives one more reason why the deci-
we are able to measure this status and resources. “This is an abstract example “We, in turn, profit from the data pro- ral dilemmas. “Genuine dilemmatic are discussing here in Germany would sion-making process must be factored
make predictions, we can provide the that illustrates how human-machine vided by the neuroscientists,” Siebel decisions, such as a decision between simply not function in a city like New in: In test situations a self-learning
adds. one human life and another, depend Delhi!” Very few norms govern traffic machine delivers results conforming
on the actual specific situation, incor- there, and the few that exist differ con- with the decisions that people have
Will algorithms decide porating ‚unpredictable’ behaviour by siderably from our own due to cultural made. “But when you look inside the
parties affected. They therefore cannot differences. Any autonomous vehicle system you may find that the reasons
over life and death?
be clearly standardized, nor can they equipped with “western European al- it gives for its actions are completely
be programmed to be ethically incon- gorithms” would have huge problems unexpected, for instance the motives
Siebel is mostly interested in the testable.” The explanation shows how there. So what kind of algorithm would may be racist. But this is not apparent
ethical standpoint here: what consti- automation forces people to confront be capable of making the right deci- in the result.” Will it be possible to trace
tutes morally good and bad decisions? ethical grey areas that have been left sions there? an algorithm’s motives in real situa-
“Autonomous systems and how they to philosophers and chance in the past. tions? Rieger and Siebel are agreed:
learn to make good decisions are a per- After all, is any driver in an extreme Decision-making “This is a question for our colleagues
fect case in point,” Siebel says. How- situation really able to reach a rational from machine learning.” At any rate
processes must be
ever, whether something is morally and ethical decision within a millise- the example shows that the aim is not
good or bad in a specific situation is of- cond? Humans remain unpredictable transparent to achieve the optimal decision, but
ten a matter for debate. “It’s something here. one that is well founded.
even philosophers argue over,” Siebel Both academics agree that autono- For Rieger and Siebel alike, auto-
points out. In this context the “trolley Culturally adaptive mous systems must function in a way nomous systems offer a multitude of
problem” is frequently cited, a classic that ensures that their decision-ma- opportunities for overcoming societal
systems needed
thought experiment revolving around king processes are transparent. “We and economic challenges. They want
the question of whether or not to pull know from legal practice that the moti- to accompany and give direction to
a lever to divert a tram from one track Another factor that is relevant for vation for an action always plays a role this process with their research. “We
where it would kill a group of people to decision-making in future autono- when evaluating the consequences of are a long way off being able to provide
another track where it would kill only mous systems is the cultural back- that action,” Rieger explains. If some- answers, first of all we have to ask the
Jochem Rieger: “Society should stop being so pessimistic and seize the opportunities.“ one person. This situation raises an ground of their field of application. one dies, it makes a difference whether right questions.” (kl)
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