Prof. Dr. Rafaela Hillerbrand 
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Dual Use, Risk, and Responsibility in Physical Research

Physical research frequently produces knowledge and technologies with multiple potential applications, including both beneficial and harmful uses. The talk discusses these issues from a conceptual perspective and briefly situates them within broader questions at the interface of physics and philosophy. It examines how dual use and uncertainty arise within core scientific practices, such as model selection, parameterization, and standards of evidence. Using examples like climate modeling or energy technologies, the talk highlights how such practices are connected to assessments of risk and responsibility.