The IWE aims to contribute to an ethical reflection of current developments in medicine, science and technology in order to facilitate a responsible use of the new potentials emerging in these fields of human activity.This goal is motivated by an ever more rapid development of modern science that penetrates all spheres of human life and leads to a blurring of the borderline between research and its applications.

The complexity of the results and consequences of modern scientific understanding and activity requires the formation of ethical judgements, both within the scientific community and within society at large. The IWE has set itself the task to accompany and support the formation of such judgements by means of interdisciplinary research.The main focus of the IWE's work is in the field of biomedical ethics and the ethics of science and technology. The IWE pursues its goal by carrying out research projects, preparing expert opinions and promoting young scientists.

Results of research are made available to the public and to other research institutions by publication of monographs, collected editions, individual contributions and the «Jahrbuch für Wissenschaft und Ethik» [Annual Journal of Science and Ethics]. In addition, the IWE tries to encourage interdisciplinary discourse on ethical aspects of scientific developments by organizing expert conferences, colloquia and lectures for the general public.Concerning the European and international context the institute cooperates with several partners.

www.iwe.uni-bonn.de