Astrid Kause (Leuphana University) and Moritz Kütt (University of Hamburg)

Zoom link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/93550633491

Abstract

Nearly 75 years ago, physicist Niels Bohr addressed the United Nations with a remarkable letter. He outlined the necessity for free scientific exchange as a precondition for a more peaceful world. In our talk, we re-examine Bohr’s proposition under today’s circumstances, looking in particular at the global challenges of nuclear weapons and climate change. Speaking together as a psychologist and a physicist, we practice openness across disciplinary fields in science. We will make recommendations for increased openness in science, addressing the global scientific community as well as diverse public audiences, and illustrate those using examples from our own research work.

Bios

Astrid Kause is an assistant professor of Sustainability Science and Psychology at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. She is associated with Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security and Behavioral Science for Policy Lab, as well as with the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam (Germany). Using methods from psychology and decision research, she studies the cognitive and social mechanisms driving risk perception and decision-making under uncertainty. She explores those in the context of climate change, biodiversity loss as well as nuclear weapons and nuclear war. Drawing on the science of science communication, her research also explores how risks and uncertainties can be communicated transparently and understandably. Her work aims to make citizens better able to deal with risk and uncertainty.

Moritz Kütt leads the Working Group “Science and Disarmament” within the research area “Arms Control and Emerging Technologies” at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH). He is also a Visiting Research Scholar with Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security as a Visiting Research Scholar. Since March 2023, Moritz has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Group of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. His research focus is the elimination of nuclear weapon programs. In his research projects, he covers aspects starting from the prevention of nuclear war and effects of nuclear weapons, over the control of nuclear weapon-related fissile material and the verification of nuclear weapon dismantlement to the mitigation of the legacy of nuclear weapons.