| News Archive |
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Collaboration with the University of Zürich
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March 2010 |
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Since the first of February there is a new link between TSL and the Department of Informatics (IFI) at the University of Zürich: Lorenz Hilty was appointed to the newly created chair of Informatics and Sustainability at IFI. He continues as head of TSL. The two institutions established this chair to jointly advance research and teaching in the overlap field between sustainability research and informatics. Topics such as "Green IT" and Environmental Informatics will be strengthened at TSL. More ... |
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The Role of ICT in Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency
New report available
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August'09 |
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The Technology and Society Lab has delivered its report to the European Commission's Coordination and Support Action ICT ENSURE - European ICT Environmental Sustainability Research. The study provides new insights in future opportunities and risks of ICT for climate and energy policy.
The report is available for download (pdf): full report | summary paper. |
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Life Cycle Assessment
New book co-edited by Roland Hischier, Life Cycle Assessment & Modelling Group
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June'09 |
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Life Cycle Thinking, Carbon Footprints, Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and other LCA-related topics are becoming more and more important. With this book, the participants of the COST Action 530 "Sustainable Materials Technology - Life Cycle Inventories for Environmentally Conscious Manufacturing Processes" express their passion for Life Cycle Thinking and provide the reader with the key insights of four years of research and cooperation. The book will help to further disseminate the knowledge about the theory and application of LCA and to bridge the gap between theory and practice in this field. | |
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Empa and the Cleaner Production Centre Medellin sign Memorandum of Understanding with the Columbian Government
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March'09 |
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On March 11, 2009, Empa and its local partner, the Cleaner Production Centre (CNPMLTA) in Medellin, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Colombian Ministry of Environment (MAVDT) to join forces in developing local capactities in the field of sustainable e-Waste management through know-how transfer and technical assistance.
The MoU, signed on the Colombian side by the Minister of Environment Juan Lozano Ramírez, represents an important step in Empa's e-Waste Project in Colombia, which is part of the "Swiss e-Waste Programme" implemented by the Technology & Society Lab and financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). | |
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36th Discussion Forum "LCA of Future Biofuels"
Together with Niels Jungbluth (ESU-services Ltd, Uster), Rainer Zah and Simon Gmünder organized a one-day conference at Empa in Dübendorf.
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November'08 |
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The conference provided an overview on recent LCA approaches and results of several case studies about future bioenergy, including BtL-fuels and synthetic natural gas (SNG), as well as emerging feedstocks like jatropha and algae. However, LCA deals with only one aspect of sustainability. To obtain a complete picture of the future potential of biofuels, environmental impacts should be weighted against impacts on the socio-economic level.
More information as well as the presentations from this interesting day can be found here. | |
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Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Electronic Waste
Swiss Disposal and Recycling Systems Investigate the Effectivnes of Banning PCBs
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September'08 |
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Swiss Disposal and Recycling Systems SENS, SWICO and SLRS (Swiss Lightig Recycling Foundation) recently investigated the PCB content of small condensers in discarded electrical and electronic appliances. Relevant quantities of PCBs were still being found in condensers from power supply units for fluorescent lighting tubes and condensers for large household appliances twenty year after the ban. On the other hand, small quantities of PCBs were found in condensers from office and entertainment electronics and small household appliances. No PCBs were found in condensers taken from cooling equipment. The complete study can be downloaded here.
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Exposure Modeling of Engineered Nanoparticles in the Environment
Nicole Müller and Bernd Nowack assessed environmental consequences of nanoparticles
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September'08 |
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The aim of this study was to use a life-cycle perspective to model the quantities of engineered nanoparticles released into the environment. The exposure modeling shows that the expected concentrations of different engineered nanoparticles in the environment are strongly determined by product life cycles. The predicted concentrations of carbon nanotubes and nanosilver in the environment pose little risk, whereas nanoparticulate titanium dioxide may be problematic in Swiss water bodies and therefore requires further scrutiny. A review about this study has been published in “Nature Nanotechnology”; see here.
Environmental Science & Technology; Volume 42 (12) 2008: 4447–4453; ISSN: 1520-5851.
Online: http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/article.cgi/esthag/2008/42/i12/pdf/es7029637.pdf
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Information Technology and Sustainability
New book issued by Lorenz Hilty, Head of the Technology & Society Lab
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June 2008 |
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are contributing both to environmental problems and to their solution. Will ICT producers, users and recyclers be the major polluters of tomorrow, or will ‘Green IT’ and a dematerialized information society save the climate?
This book provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between ICT and sustainable development, culminating in 15 recommendations – to producers, users and political decision makers – which show the way to a sustainable information society.
Lorenz M. Hilty: Information Technology and Sustainability.
BOD 2008. € 48.- / sFr. 79.50, 180 p.; ISBN: 978-3-8370-1970-4.
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/3837019705/
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Sustainable Nanotechnology Development
TSL Group edited special issue of „Journal of Cleaner Production“
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June 2008 |
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Nanotechnology is widely seen as having huge potentials to bring benefits to many areas of research and application. At the same time, it is recognized that its application may raise new challenges in the safety, regulatory or ethical domains that will require societal debate. Based on these considerations Aasgeir Helland and Hans Kastenholz of the Technology and Society Lab edited a special issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production. The special issue focuses on different facets of sustainable nanotechnology development.
Journal of Cleaner Production; Volume 16; Number 8-9 2008; ISSN 0959-6526.
Online: www.elsevier.com/locate/jclepro | |
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| ICT and Sustainability: Lorenz Hilty gives an invited lecture on "Factors influencing the contribution of ICT to sustainability" on the occasion of the meeting between Commissioner Viviane Reding and the leaders of the European Technology Platforms (ETPs) for ICT at the European Commission, DG Information Society and Media, in Brussels (2008-02-21). |
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| | Schweizer Jahr der Informatik 2008: Zum Auftakt des Informatikjahres stellt Lorenz Hilty zwei Projekte der Abteilung Technologie und Gesellschaft den Medien vor: Das Projekt Swiss Computer Science Challenges Award hat das Ziel, mehr Bewusstsein für die wissenschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Relevanz der Informatik zu schaffen. Die öffentliche Veranstaltungsreihe Verletzlichkeit der Informationsgesellschaft soll zu einem informierten Umgang mit Risiken der Digitalisierung und Vernetzung beitragen. (2008-01-28) |
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| | R'07 World Congress: For three days, the R0'7 World Congress "Recovery of Materials and Energy for Resource Efficiency" takes place at Davos Congress Center, Switzerland, organized by Empa's Technology and Society Lab and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW). (2007-09-03) More |
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| | Biofuels: Empa's comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment study on biofuels is published. The final report (in German, including summaries in English, French and Italian) is ready for download. The R'07 World Congress will treat the Biofuels topic on September 4, 2007. (2007-05-22) |
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Knappe Metallressourcen: Ausgelöst u.a. durch die erhöhte Nachfrage nach Metallen im asiatischen Raum ist das Thema 'Ressourcenknappheit' wieder in das Blickfeld von Öffentlichkeit und Medien geraten. Das Forum Abfallverminderung und Recycling (FAR) der ISWA Schweiz diskutiert das Thema zusammen mit Fachleuten anlässlich der ISWA-Frühjahrstagung "Schliessung von Stoffkreisläufen - vom frommen Wunsch zur dringenden Notwendigkeit?" am 12. April 2007 an der Empa in Dübendorf. (2007-04-12) Mehr
Industriell hergestellte Nanopartikel bieten Potenzial für eine Vielzahl unterschiedlichster Produkte. Zu den Auswirkungen dieser Nanopartikel auf Mensch und Umwelt besteht Forschungsbedarf. Das Deutsche Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung fördert zusammen mit der Industrie das Projekt NanoCare, um Wissenslücken zu schließen und Maßnahmen zur Risikoerkennung und -minimierung einzuleiten. Hans Kastenholz von der Abteilung Technologie und Gesellschaft wurde in den externen wissenschaftlichen Beirat des Projektes berufen. (2007-03-07) Mehr
Deadline for the submission of abstracts to R'07: The World Congress on Recovery of Materials and Energy for Resource Efficiency, September 3-5, 2007 in Davos, Switzerland, is co-organized by the Technology and Society Lab. (2006-11-15) More
Visit us at NanoEurope: The Technology and Society Lab provides an exhibition on risk perception by experts and non-experts. (2006-09-12) More
Environmental Informatics: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Environmental Informatics Conference (2006 in Graz), Environmental Modelling and Software has published a special issue, edited by Lorenz Hilty, Bernd Page, and Jiri Hrebicek. The issue is now available online. (2006-08-10) More
Verbraucherkonferenz Nanotechnologie: Dieses Projekt wird vom Unabhängigen Institut für Umweltfragen (UfU) im Auftrag des Deutschen Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung (BfR) durchgeführt. Es beschäftigt sich erstmals mit den Chancen und Risiken nanotechnologischer Anwendungen aus Verbraucherperspektive. Im Kontext des gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutzes geht es dabei im Besonderen um die Risikobewertung in den Bereichen Lebensmittel, Kosmetika und Bedarfsgegenstände. Hans Kastenholz von der Abteilung Technologie und Gesellschaft wurde in den wissenschaftlichen Beirat des Projektes berufen. (2006-08-01) Mehr Nanotechnology and Society: This workshop with Thorsten Fleischer, Louis Tiefenauer, Thomas Epprecht, Michael Emmenegger and Lorenz Hilty is organized by the Technology and Society Lab as a part of the Swiss Nanoconvention. (2006-06-23) More
Nanotechnologien - Bedeutung für Gesundheit und Umwelt: Das Schweizerische Zentrum für Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung (TA-SWISS) führt einen Publifocus zu diesem Thema durch. Die Abteilung Technologie und Gesellschaft ist über Hans Kastenholz beteiligt, der in die Begleitgruppe berufen wurde. (2006-06-01) Mehr
NanoHealth: "Nanotechnology and health - technological options, risk evaluation and precautionary strategies": The Technology and Society Lab is project partner of a recently launched project, funded by the German Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft. (2006-05-01) More |
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| | Das Schweizerische Zentrum für Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung stellt die Studie "TA-SWISS erweitert seinen Blick: Sozial- und kulturwissenschaftlich ausgerichtete Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung" von Sabine Maasen (Universität Basel) und Martina Merz (Empa, Abteilung Technologie und Gesellschaft) der Öffentlichkeit vor. (2006-04-21) Download |
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SNF-professorship for Martina Merz: The Swiss National Science Foundation grants a professorship for "Epistemic Practice, Social Organization, and Scientific Culture: Configurations of Nanoscale Research in Switzerland" at the University of Lucerne to Martina Merz. She will leave the Technology and Society Lab by fall 2005. (2006-04-15) |
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Nanotechnology - Benefits and Risks: Das Departement Umweltwissenschaften der ETHZ führt im WS 06/07 eine weitere Fallstudie zum Thema "Nanotechnologie - Chancen und Risiken" durch. Im Zentrum stehen unter anderem Forschungsfragen zur Risikowahrnehmung von Experten und Laien sowie zum Risiko- und Sicherheitsmanagement in der Industrie. Die Fallstudie wird geleitet von Michael Siegrist, ETHZ/Universität Zürich, und Hans Kastenholz, Empa, Abteilung Technologie und Gesellschaft. (2006-04-01) |
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Security Aspects and Prospective Applications of RFID Systems: The study on opportunities and risks of RFID systems by IZT and Empa is now available in English. (2005-11-26) Download (2.05 MB) |
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VIS 2005 – Visions of the Information Society: International Conference of Empa’s "Sustainability in the Information Society (SIS)" research program. (2005-11-03/04) |
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Call for Papers: Call for contributions for a special issue of Journal of Cleaner Production addressing ‘Development of Nanotechnology in Light of Sustainability’, with Asgeir Helland and Hans Kastenholz from TSL as Guest Editors. (2005-10-25) More |
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| COST Action for Sustainable Transport: Switzerland signs the Memorandum of Understanding for the COST Action 356 "EST - Towards the definition of a measurable environmentally sustainable transport". Together with other laboratories of Empa, TSL will participate in the action and provide the Swiss national representative in the person of Patrick Wäger. (2005-10-14) More |
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Regional Infrastructure Foresight (RIF) - Transition Management for the Sanitation Sector: EMPA-TSL is consortium partner of a recent launched Swiss National Science Foundation-funded project. (2005-08-01) More |
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| | Environmental and Social Impacts of Electronic Waste Recycling. Special Issue of Environmental Impact Assessment Review now available. (2005-07-01) More |
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Am Tag der offenen Tür der Empa in Dübendorf war die Abteilung "Technologie und Gesellschaft" mit zwei Posten im Rahmen der beiden Forschungspfade "Materialien für Energietechnologien" und "Technosphären-Atmosphäre" vertreten. Die auf diesen Ständen gezeigten Poster sind nun als pdf-Versionen verfügbar. (2005-06-25) Mehr |
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Am Tag der offenen Tür der Empa in St. Gallen war die Abteilung "Technologie und Gesellschaft" mit drei Posten im Rahmen der beiden Forschungspfade "Materialien für Energietechnologien" und "Technosphären-Atmosphäre" vertreten. Die auf diesen Ständen gezeigten Poster sind nun als pdf-Versionen verfügbar. (2005-06-18) Mehr |
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ETH-NSS-HEI Fallstudie 2005/06: "Nanotechnology - Benefits and Risks":
Das Departement Umweltwissenschaften der ETHZ bereitet eine Fallstudie zum Thema "Nanotechnologie - Benefits and Risks" vor. In dieser Studie werden WissenschaftlerInnen aus verschienden Diskziplinen mit Akteuren aus der Praxis (Unternehmen, Versicherungen, Bundesämter, etc.) kooperieren, um zukünftige Entwicklungen der Nanotechnologie unter derm Gesichtspunkt von Risiken und Risikowahrnehmung zu beurteilen. Hans Kastenholz wurde in die Begleitgruppe berufen, welche leitend in die Projektsteuerung mit einbezogen wird. Asgeir Helland wird als Tutor die Arbeit der Studierenden mit betreuen. (2005-04-07) |
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| | The special issue on Sustainable Pervasive Computing of the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 1, Spring 2005, is now available. (2005-03-30) More |
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NANOLOGUE - Facilitating the dialogue between research, business and the civil society: EMPA-TSL is consortium partner of a recent launched European Comissioned-funded project. (2005-03-02) More |
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| | New Book: The IGP book 'Information Systems for Sustainable Development', edited by Lorenz M. Hilty, Eberhard K. Seifert and René Treibert, is now available. (2005-01-01) More |
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| | Ecoinvent: A special issue of the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment on our LCI database ecoinvent is now available. (2005-01-01) More |
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Schweizer Informatik Gesellschaft (SI): Die Generalversammlung der SI wählt Lorenz Hilty in ihren neuen Vorstand. Bisher leitete er die Fachgruppe Informatik & Gesellschaft und hat in einer Arbeitsgruppe mit Henriette Baumann, Ann Dünki, André Golliez, Rolph Haefelfinger, Konrad Lang, Cordula Niklaus, Christian Schucan und Carl-August Zehnder an der Formulierung der Ethik-Richtlinien für Informatikberufe mitgewirkt.(2004-11-19) |
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| | Risiken von RFID: Das Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik BSI stellt die Studie "Risiken und Chancen der RFID-Technologie" in Berlin der Öffentlichkeit vor. Sie wurde von Empa-TSL und IZT Berlin gemeinsam erarbeitet. (2004-11-17) Mehr |
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2004-11-14
Nanotechnology and Risk: Empa-TSL co-organizes a Workshop on Risk Perception and Risk Communication in the Field of Nanotechnology in Karlsruhe. (2004-11-17) Workshop program. |
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| | Issue 5/2004 of HERA with Special Section on Human and Environmental Risks of Pervasive Computing now available. (2004-10-31) More |
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| | Report on The Future Impact of ICT on Environmental Sustainability now available. (2004-08-31) More |
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Informatik im Umweltschutz: Der Fachausschuss Informatik im Umweltschutz der Gesellschaft für Informatik hält sein Frühjahrstreffen an der Empa ab und informiert sich über das Forschungsprogramm Sustainability in the Information Society SIS der Empa. (2004-04-23) Mehr
Sustainability in the Information Society (SIS): The SIS research program at Empa (2001-2005) presents its interim results for project partners and guests. (2004-04-22 ) Detailed program.
Pervasive 2004: Empa-TSL contributes to the workshop on Sustainable Pervasive Computing at the Pervasive 2004 conference in Vienna.(2004-04-20 )
Cooperation with the Finland Future Research Centre (FFRC): Empa-TSL and FFRC sign a cooperation contract and start a project on ICT consumption patterns in the modern infrastructure of communities. (2004-03-10)
Technology and Society Laboratory founded: The TSL is founded at Empa by merging the former Sustainable Information Technology Unit with the SusTec Unit and concentrating Empa’s Life Cycle Assessment research in the LCA unit of the new lab. (2004-01-01)
BBC News reports on our Technology Assessment Project on Pervasive Computing. (2003-12-23) BBC report.
STOA recommends Empa study to European Parliament: STOA discusses our Technology Assessment Project on Pervasive Computing, concluding that the study is "of high interest for the European Parliament" and "to request a translation of the entire study into English and of the summary into the other official languages." Report TA 46/2003, TA 46A/2003 in German with short versions in 19 languages. Second revised edition of complete report in English: Download (2.4 MB, 346 p.) (2003-12-18)
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