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Matthias Kaiser



Matthias KAISER took the Abitur in Düsseldorf (1971).

Study of Philosophy, Mathematics, Physics, and Sociology of Science at the Universities of Munich, Frankfurt a.M., and Oslo.

Mag-art.-degree in Philosophy from Oslo University (1979); visiting graduate student at Stanford University (1982-83).

Part-time lecturer in Philosophy at Oslo University, and alternate director of Seminar for Science Studies.

1987-90 assistant professor at Dept. of Philosophy at Oslo University.

Doctoral degree in philosophy of science with a dissertation entitled “Aspekte des wissenschaftlichen Fortschritts”; received with the degree “magna cum laude” at the University of Frankfurt a.M. (1991).

Senior researcher at the Centre for Medical Ethics with a 3-year project on medical technology assessment from 1990-91.

Promoted to full professor in 1997.

Matthias Kaiser is Director of the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities at the University of Bergen. Until February 2011 he was Director of National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT) since 1991, a position including 50% of work time for own research, with acknowledged competence as full professor in philosophy of science since 1996. Until 2006 he was adjunct professor for philosophy of science in the doctoral education program at the College of Architecture (AHO) in Oslo. His main work and areas of expertise are in the fields of philosophy of science, ethics of science, and technology assessment.

Academic activities: Chairman of the Standing Committee on Responsibility and Ethics in Science, appointed by the International Council of Scientific Unions since 1996; treasurer and member of the Executive Board of the International Association of Technology Assessment and Forecasting Institutions.

His areas of competence include social studies of science and technology, history of science, ethics, logic, and history of philosophy. For many years Kaiser's research activities have taken place in a multi- and inter-disciplinary environment. Due to his position at the National Committees for Research Ethics he is familiar with, and directly involved in matters of science and technology policy. In this capacity he has built up competence in the field of scientific integrity. Through detailed case studies he has furthermore considerable insights in diverse fields of science, such as the history of plate tectonics, aquaculture, and biotechnology. Another topic of detailed study is the Precautionary Principle, particularly in environmental science. His leading role in the conduct of three Norwegian consensus conferences has led to a special interest in participatory policy tools and their use in ethical debate, among others the ethical matrix. He has published two books, co-edited two further books, written several committee studies and project reports and edited three thematic issues of scientific journals. In addition he has published or co-authored approximately 90 articles in various journals and anthologies. Most publications are in English or in Norwegian, some in German, and some are translated into French, Russian, Chinese, and Serbo-Croatian. Kaiser has been main supervisor for several successful doctoral students and is currently main supervisor for two doctoral students.

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