Swords or plowshares? Workshop on technology and peace in Lübeck

Swords or plowshares? Workshop on technology and peace in Lübeck

On October 7, 2025, the University of Lübeck will host a workshop entitled “Swords or Plowshares? – Risks and Opportunities of Technology in War and Peace”. The event will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at MFC I, Maria-Goeppert-Straße 1, and is organized by the Commission for the Ethics of Security-Related Research (KEsF). This initiative aims to lead a discussion about responsible research and minimize the potential for harm and misuse of technologies. The target group are members of the University of Lübeck and other research-related institutions such as the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Fraunhofer and the Lübeck University of Technology, such as uni-luebeck.de reported.

The workshop includes contributions from renowned speakers, including Prof. Gerald Kirchner, Dr. Jascha Bareis and Dr. Stephanie Smith. Central topics such as scientific peace research, the role of algorithms and research sovereignty in security-sensitive areas are addressed. Participants also have the opportunity to take part in two smaller thematic workshops to develop practical options for action. The focus here is on the exchange of technological innovations in peacekeeping.

Objective and relevance

The aim of the event is to make a contribution that goes beyond the immediate technical development. Responsible use of technology in crisis contexts is considered essential. This is particularly relevant against the background of current violent conflicts, such as the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which has a significant influence on Europe, as proven by well-documented research approaches, for example through initiatives by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which supports relevant research projects in the field of peace and conflict research, as shown on humanities-and-social sciences-bmbf.de is presented. The focus here is particularly on interdisciplinary approaches in order to enable political and social responses to international developments.

Considering the role of information technologies (IT) in conflicts and peace processes, the book “Information Technology for Peace and Security – IT-Applications and Infrastructures in Conflicts, Crises, War, and Peace” by Prof. Christian Reuter is an essential source. It addresses the integration of IT into peace research and addresses, among other things, cyber conflicts, arms control and social media as instruments in conflict mediation. peasec.de describes that the book was written in an interdisciplinary manner and is aimed at scientists, software developers and students. It includes 27 authors and examines comprehensive questions about modern technologies.

Research networks and future challenges

In addition to the events and book projects described, there are a large number of research networks and projects in Germany that are dedicated to peace and conflict research, often supported by government funding. These networks, which bring together different disciplines, are designed to generate innovative solutions and deeper insights into existing problems.

An example of this are the competence networks that bring regional actors together to research future-oriented questions in peace research. This includes topics such as local conflicts, chemical and biological weapons, and the social impact of autonomous weapon systems. Taken together, these events and initiatives provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and strategies to promote peace, both on a theoretical and practical level.