Politecnico di Milano, 17th November 2003. French sociologist Bruno Latour gave a lecture on
Assembly or assemblage? Politics and polytechnics, intended to promote an informed debate on the theme of responsibility in innovation.
The lecture’s video is available on the Politecnico’s website www.polimi.it – section Eventi on-line – Conferenze
The principle of responsibility in innovation – the link between the choices made by innovators and the social, environmental,cultural and economic impact of innovation – is becoming increasingly relevant and problematic. It is relevant because innovation itself is an ever more important part of contemporary social and economic systems. It is problematic because these systems have become so complex as to blur the causal nexus between choices and their consequences.
At both the epistemological and political-social levels, the debate often focuses on the role of three actors: scientists, entrepreneurs and the market. In fact, however, technologists and designers play a crucial role in this network. The aim of the lecture is to contribute to this debate from the special perspective of technological research, especially that of research in technical universities.
The lecture that is sponsored by Fondazione Giannino Bassetti, whose mission is devoted to fostering responsibility in innovation intends to promote an informed debate by future researchers on their role by underscoring the importance of choices and attitudes that are often implicit or not weighed with sufficient care.