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"Contribute to responsible and sustainable development of smart technologies" Peter-Paul Verbeek Distinguished Professor

During the Dies ceremony last month, Peter-Paul Verbeek was appointed as a Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy of Technology and Society. An honorable title, which comes with an annual budget for further expansion within the professor's scientific field. 

Figurehead and ambassador

Thom Palstra on Peter-Paul: "As a Professor of Philosophy of Human-Technology Relations, you are a true figurehead and ambassador of the University of Twente. You know how to connect technology and social sciences. Your network is impressive, varying from the Rathenau Institute and several national ethics committees up to the UNESCO World Commission for the Ethics of Science and Technology. You wrote a number of books on the relations of humans and technology and you are a great science communicator. Your list of activities is impressive. The University of Twente would like to acknowledge and reward your role in all this. We would even like to enhance your role as a connector inside the university, and as a UT ambassador in society. You know how to do this in your own energetic and charming way."

The scientific field in which Peter-Paul is working, philosophy of technology and society, is upcoming. "There is a new wave of technology ahead of us, Peter-Paul said to U-Today  "We are moving towards a super smart society. What if algorythms perform better than the physican's diagnosis? What about employment if the robotization of society will continue as fast as it does now? The University of Twente can really contribute to responsible and sustainable development of smart technologies and the societal challenges we come across. 

Peter-Paul is the fifth professor to receive the title. The others are Prof.dr.ir. A. (Albert) van den Berg, Prof.dr. D. (Detlef) Lohse, Prof.dr.ir. B. (Bram) Nauta and Prof.dr.ing. D.H.A. (Dave) Blank.