About the IWE

The IWE is a Central Research Unit of the University of Bonn funded by the German public. Its designated tasks are to: plan, conduct and evaluate research projects on science and ethics; support academic and non-academic research facilities in conducting research projects on science and ethics; communicate insights acquired to the public and other research institutions; and, serve as a forum for scientific discussion on topics and issues related to science and ethics.

Objectives

Its core objectives are to contribute to an ethical reflection of current developments in medicine, science, and technology in order to facilitate the responsible use of new potentials emerging in these fields of human activity. The IWE has set itself the goal to accompany and support the formation of ethical judgements by means of interdisciplinary research. It pursues its goal by carrying out research projects, preparing expert opinions and promoting young scientists.

equality plan (German)

History and Committees

The Institut für Wissenschaft und Ethik [Institute for Science and Ethics] was founded in 1993 on the initiative of the University of Bonn, the University of Essen, the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) and the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR). It was sponsored by a registered association based in Bonn. The direction of the institute was carried out by a board of directors. The scientific work was accompanied by an advisory board. The institute received a basic funding by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia within the framework of the title group 73. Since January 1st, 2010, the institute is a Central Research Unit of the University of Bonn. The association will continue to operate alongside the institute. The institute is directed by its director Prof. Dr. Aimee van Wynsberghe.

Library

The library of the IWE was built up between 1993 and 1998. Since January 1999 it is looked after by the Deutsches Referenzzentrum für Ethik in den Biowissenschaften (DRZE) [German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences].

For further information and the usage of the online-searching facilities, please switch to the corresponding pages on the Homepage of the DRZE.

Address:
Bibliothek des DRZE
Bonner Talweg 57
53113 Bonn

Phone: +49 228 73-8160

E-mail: bibliothek@drze.de