ABOUT US
Founded in 2002, CSSC is an independent, non-partisan, organization registered as a private research centre by the Italian  Ministry of University and Research. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, CSSC explores social, cultural and ethical implications of emerging technologies in various fields (e.g., biometrics, privacy, surveillance technologies, disaster prevention and first response,  eInclusion, homeland security). Our track-record of researching, partnering and networking has made us a leading European institution in the area of science and society.

VISION
Technology alleviates the tyranny of human material constitution, its physical limitation, its spatial and temporal constraints, and its limited capacity to perform actions. Yet technology is not only fabricating instruments for a purpose. Human beings are hardly ‘utilitarian machines’, they are rather ‘symbolic machines’. Understanding the implicit assumptions, values and narratives which underlie the emerging of a technology is vital for technology governance and for managing social, ethical and political conflicts raised by technology innovation.

MISSION
Through our activities we translate our vision and values into action. We:

Bring science policies closer to citizens by promoting public awareness of science and  technology and by encouraging open dialogue among citizens and policy makers. Promote international and transnational conversation among institutions, communities, businesses, and NGOs on fundamental rights and values vis-à-vis emerging technologies. Pursue innovative policy solutions to ethical, social and legal conflicts raised by emerging technologies. We encourage horizon thinking, creative problem solving, and win-win solutions

STAFF
CSSC staff comprises a core group based in Rome and an international network of researchers and associate fellows with backgrounds in social science, humanities, law, ICT, medicine and bioscience. Founder and Director of CSSC is Emilio Mordini. A scholar with a proven track record in European research, Emilio was formerly Director of  the Psychoanalytic Institute for Social Research (1986-2001), Professor of Bioethics in the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (1994-2006), Scientific Secretary of the Bioethical Commission of the Italian National Research Council (2000-04). Focusing his efforts on creating an international research centre devoted to ethical, political and social implications of emerging technologies , Emilio  founded CSSC in 2002.

 

• May 10th - 11th 2012
  SPOOFING AND ANTI-SPOOFING: THE WIDER HUMAN CONTEXT
  Rome, Italy
  A workshop organised in the scope of the TABULA RASA PROJECT. Biometric technologies raise a number of ethical and legal concerns, as has been well-documented by recent European FP7 projects. The TABULA RASA Workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to address the central ethical issues raised by biometrics, spoofing, and anti-spoofing countermeasures.This two-day workshop is organised around three main round tables: "In Biometrics We Trust?""; "From Biometric to Augmented Human Recognition"; "The Ethical and Legal Context".
  Programme
• May 28th 2012
  BRAID Project Final Conference
  Prague, Czech Republic
  The final BRAID Conference will present results achieved by the project, encompassing the roadmap and implementation activities. The one-day meeting seeks to discuss socio- economic aspects in ICT and ageing that influence and shape recreational activities across different life settings and mechanisms that empower older people to live independently and fulfilled. The conference will provide space for stakeholders to exchange and discuss the results from practical experiences including best practice projects and failed approaches in the field of ICT and ageing.
  
  Provisional Programme
• June 8th - 10th 2012
  Epistemological Problems of Privacy and Secrecy Conference
  Delft, Netherlands
  The purpose of the 2012 Episteme conference is to take some first steps towards establishing ‘the epistemology of privacy’ as an important new area of epistemological investigation. In particular, this conference aims to elucidate the role knowledge plays in the privacy debate. Furthermore, given the relation between privacy and secrecy, this conference also aims to investigate the notion of secrecy as an epistemological notion. The theme of the conference thus is ‘Epistemological Issues of Privacy and Secrecy’.


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