Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CETE-P (Establishing the Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics - Prague)
Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-12-31
The ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies and climate change have been critically examined by ethicists in newly founded research centres all around the developed world. Yet, there is no comparable research program in the Czech Republic, and only a few relevant research initiatives in the whole CEE region.
The Horizon Europe-funded project, led by ERA Chair holder Prof. Mark Coeckelbergh, one of the most prolific and innovative authors in philosophy of technology and environment, will help to remedy this situation by establishing the Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics - Prague (CETE-P), based at the Institute of Philosophy, the largest humanities institute at the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The main mission of this international research center is to contribute to advancing state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of environmental and technology ethics, in particular by focusing on issues that are under-researched globally, and/or imperative in the CEE region.
At the same time the project will enable to implement a set of organizational measures and structural changes at the IP CAS, in particular in the areas of HR, international grant support, research management and institutional culture. These changes will improve the international visibility of the IP, helping it to both succeed in competing for EU research funds and to integrate better into the European research landscape.
Finally, the CETE-P project aims to overcome the existing barriers between the general public, concerned stakeholders and the research community, as well as facilitate the flow of expert ethical opinions in the wider societal debate on the ethical issues concerning technologies and environment. In its long-term impact, this project shall contribute to further increase in public visibility of SSH research and its relevance for tackling urgent societal and political issues.
The Horizon Europe-funded project, led by ERA Chair holder Prof. Mark Coeckelbergh, one of the most prolific and innovative authors in philosophy of technology and environment, will help to remedy this situation by establishing the Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics - Prague (CETE-P), based at the Institute of Philosophy, the largest humanities institute at the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The main mission of this international research center is to contribute to advancing state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of environmental and technology ethics, in particular by focusing on issues that are under-researched globally, and/or imperative in the CEE region.
At the same time the project will enable to implement a set of organizational measures and structural changes at the IP CAS, in particular in the areas of HR, international grant support, research management and institutional culture. These changes will improve the international visibility of the IP, helping it to both succeed in competing for EU research funds and to integrate better into the European research landscape.
Finally, the CETE-P project aims to overcome the existing barriers between the general public, concerned stakeholders and the research community, as well as facilitate the flow of expert ethical opinions in the wider societal debate on the ethical issues concerning technologies and environment. In its long-term impact, this project shall contribute to further increase in public visibility of SSH research and its relevance for tackling urgent societal and political issues.
During the second reporting period, all activities followed the plan and the Description of Action. The main activities by Work Package are summarized below; all activities are described in more detail in the Technical Report, Part B.
Work Package 1
- Regular cooperation with the ERA Chair Holder.
- Regular team meetings; two full-team meetings (WP Leaders meeting) each year; one Project Management Board meeting per year.
- Continuous monitoring of work progress and budget spending.
- Project presentation within the IP CAS and at partner institutions.
- Networking with local teams preparing ERA Chair proposals or implementing ERA Chair projects.
- Ongoing activities supporting the long-term sustainability of CETE-P through grant applications and communication with IP CAS management.
Work Package 2
- Full research team recruited under the supervision of the ERA Chair Holder.
- All selected researchers have accepted offers and started their positions, completed onboarding, and are employed on contracts in line with the Description of Action.
- Joint steps by the ERA Chair Holder, WP1, and the Research Team Leader to support long-term career within CETE-P after the project end.
Work Package 3
- Eight publications published, other in progress.
- One international conference organised.
- Thirty-seven research events organised, including workshops, debates, summer schools in environmental philosophy, public lectures, and book launches.
- International travel by CETE-P researchers to establish new partnerships; participation in networking visits, presenting research at workshops and conferences.
- Securing prestigious grants to strengthen CETE-P knowledge and capacity, including a MSCA-PF starting in 2025 and a Czech Science Foundation Postdoctoral Incoming Fellowship starting in 2026.
Work Package 4
- HR, Open Science, and grant support activities implemented with a focus on institutional improvement.
- Grant activities supporting the IP CAS and the local academic environment, including MSCA-PF and ERC workshops, Open Science training, and data management training.
- Round tables focused on sharing the good institutional practice.
Work Package 5
- Regular communication through newsletters, social media, and the CETE-P website, with growing audiences.
- Internship program successfully implemented for high school students.
- New communication and dissemination formats prepared, including a podcast series (Green Wire) and a short PR project video
- Two CETE-P Forums organized for stakeholders.
- Creative workshop for local artists, researchers, and programmers, resulting in the PumpGPT project presented at the national festival AI Days.
- Numerous local networking and communication activities.
- All public lectures recorded and further disseminated via YouTube, social media and CETE-P website.
Work Package 1
- Regular cooperation with the ERA Chair Holder.
- Regular team meetings; two full-team meetings (WP Leaders meeting) each year; one Project Management Board meeting per year.
- Continuous monitoring of work progress and budget spending.
- Project presentation within the IP CAS and at partner institutions.
- Networking with local teams preparing ERA Chair proposals or implementing ERA Chair projects.
- Ongoing activities supporting the long-term sustainability of CETE-P through grant applications and communication with IP CAS management.
Work Package 2
- Full research team recruited under the supervision of the ERA Chair Holder.
- All selected researchers have accepted offers and started their positions, completed onboarding, and are employed on contracts in line with the Description of Action.
- Joint steps by the ERA Chair Holder, WP1, and the Research Team Leader to support long-term career within CETE-P after the project end.
Work Package 3
- Eight publications published, other in progress.
- One international conference organised.
- Thirty-seven research events organised, including workshops, debates, summer schools in environmental philosophy, public lectures, and book launches.
- International travel by CETE-P researchers to establish new partnerships; participation in networking visits, presenting research at workshops and conferences.
- Securing prestigious grants to strengthen CETE-P knowledge and capacity, including a MSCA-PF starting in 2025 and a Czech Science Foundation Postdoctoral Incoming Fellowship starting in 2026.
Work Package 4
- HR, Open Science, and grant support activities implemented with a focus on institutional improvement.
- Grant activities supporting the IP CAS and the local academic environment, including MSCA-PF and ERC workshops, Open Science training, and data management training.
- Round tables focused on sharing the good institutional practice.
Work Package 5
- Regular communication through newsletters, social media, and the CETE-P website, with growing audiences.
- Internship program successfully implemented for high school students.
- New communication and dissemination formats prepared, including a podcast series (Green Wire) and a short PR project video
- Two CETE-P Forums organized for stakeholders.
- Creative workshop for local artists, researchers, and programmers, resulting in the PumpGPT project presented at the national festival AI Days.
- Numerous local networking and communication activities.
- All public lectures recorded and further disseminated via YouTube, social media and CETE-P website.
At the halfway point of the CETE-P project, and based on feedback from the academic community, stakeholders, partners interested in collaborating with CETE-P, applicants who responded to the recruitment process and calls for expressions of interest, we expect that the CETE-P project will have a significant impact on the broader agenda related to environmental and technological ethics, both at the level of societal perception and at the level of implementation.
An important outcome beyond the scientific objectives is the dissemination of best practice to other academic organizations as well as sharing of know-how both with other institutions and universities, and within the community of the IP CAS. The recognition gained by securing the prestigious Horizon Europe project has inspired other Czech institutions to initiate ERA Chair projects, benefiting from the advisory support of our team. Last but not least, the important experience of running an international selection process with a focus on gender balance and transparency has been widely shared and consulted by other projects and institutions.
We therefore expect that the project will directly improve the scientific environment and increase the relevance of Social Sciences and Humanities in the Czech Republic and the Central European region.
An important outcome beyond the scientific objectives is the dissemination of best practice to other academic organizations as well as sharing of know-how both with other institutions and universities, and within the community of the IP CAS. The recognition gained by securing the prestigious Horizon Europe project has inspired other Czech institutions to initiate ERA Chair projects, benefiting from the advisory support of our team. Last but not least, the important experience of running an international selection process with a focus on gender balance and transparency has been widely shared and consulted by other projects and institutions.
We therefore expect that the project will directly improve the scientific environment and increase the relevance of Social Sciences and Humanities in the Czech Republic and the Central European region.