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Ir.ing. B. Walhout (Bart)

Background

Bart Walhout is researching governance processes, frameworks and discourses of emerging technologies. At the University of Twente he is working on the project “Practices, Institutionalisation and Impact of Responsible Innovation in Nanotechnology”, which is part of the Risk Analysis & Technology Assessment (RATA) theme of the research consortium NanoNextNL. Before Bart has been working as a Technology Assessment (TA) practitioner at the Rathenau Institute, the Dutch parliamentary TA organization. At this institute he has been working on nanotechnology, synthetic biology, ambient intelligence and their links to discussions about converging technologies. Bart Walhout has a background in innovation policy studies and radio electronics. He has a special interest in the political dynamics of new and emerging science and technology (NEST).

Research

Started at September 2011 I am studying the quest for ‘responsible innovation’ in nanotechnology. The notion of ‘responsible innovation’ or ‘responsible development’ has become a widespread concern in the context of emerging nanotechnologies, especially in policy context. There are instances of responsible innovation already, like the development of codes of conduct, the setting up of public engagement processes, the willingness of firms and laboratories to be transparent. I will investigate whether actual practices of ‘doing responsible innovation’ spread and stabilize, i.e. become institutionalized, or turn out to be merely transitory phenomena. I want to know to what extent and how responsible development has evolved as a rhetorical practice and as more substantial practices related to research, development or production and to what extent and how this affects ongoing innovation processes. This may turn out differently for different sectors, levels and/or national contexts.

Teaching

Networks

Member of the Netherlands Graduate School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC), with a local program in Governance of Knowledge and Innovation of the Twente Graduate School.

Other activities

Publications

Papers and chapters

·	Est, R. van et al. (forthcoming). Risk and Technology Assessment. To be published in Springer Handbook of Risk Theory, Sabine Roeser, Rafaela Hillerbrand, Martin Peterson, Per Sandin (Editors)

·	Est, R. van & Walhout, B. (2010). Waiting for Nano – Very Actively. Technikfolgenabschätzung – Theorie und Praxis, 19(2).

·	Walhout, B. & Est, R. van (2010). Regeren is vooruitzien - Politiek-maatschappelijke aspecten van nanotechnologie. In P Oomen, T Wobbes & T Bemelmans (Eds.), Nanotechnologie - Betekenis, beloften en dilemma's. Valkhof Pers

·	Stemerding, D. et al. (2010) Synthetic Biology and the role of CSOs. In: Synthetic Biology; the techno-science and its consequences. Springer 2010

·	Walhout, Bart Est, Rinie van. "Netherlands." Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Society. 2010. SAGE Publications. 15 Sep. 2011.

·	Swierstra, T. et al. (2009) Converging Technologies, Shifting Boundaries. Nano Ethics, no 3.

Selected project publications of the Rathenau Institute (download at www.rathenau.nl)

Nanotechnology and NBIC-convergence:

·	Walhout, B. et al. (2010) Nanogeneeskunde in Nederland / available in English as Nanomedicine in The Netherlands. The Hague, Rathenau Instituut

·	Swierstra, T. et al. (2009) Leven als Bouwpakket. Kampen, Klement 2009 / available in English as special issue of Nano Ethics, no 3. 2009

·	Walhout, B. et al. (2009) Flux Magazine no. 2: special issue on nanotechnology

·	Walhout, B. et al (2009) Nanotechnologie in Nederland (2009) / available in English as Nanotechnology in The Netherlands. The Hague, Rathenau Instituut

·	Hanssen, L. et al. (2008) Tien lessen voor een nanodialoog / available in English as Ten lessons for a nanodialogue. The Hague, Rathenau Instituut

Synthetic Biology

·	Van Est, R. et al. (2007) Nieuw leven in het biodebat / available in English as The world of Synthetic Biology (message to parliament) The Hague, Rathenau Instituut

·	De Vriend, H. et al. (2007) Leven maken / available in English as Constructing Life. The Hague, Rathenau Instituut 2006

Ambient Intelligence

·	Schuurman, J. et al. (2007) Ambient Intelligence: Toekomst van de zorg of zorg van de toekomst? / available in English as Ambient intelligence: Viable future or dangerous illusion? The Hague, Rathenau Instituut