Professor Bart Gremmen has been appointed Professor by special 
appointment of Ethics in Life Sciences at Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR. The chair is a joint initiative of the Animal Sciences Group and the Plant Sciences Group, and embedded in the Adaption Physiology Group headed by Prof. Bas Kemp and the Plant Breeding Group headed by Prof. Richard Visser.
Prof. Gremmen will join researchers, government and social organizations to work on analyzing and evaluating the dynamics of standards and values in the complex innovation processes generated by issues such as animal welfare, sustainability, genetic modification and hunger. Bart Gremmen´s research and teaching will focus on the ethical position and role of life sciences in society. Important advances in the field of life sciences mean that many of our traditional standards and values are now undergoing change or modernization. Deciphering the genome of the tomato and potato and the development of animal-friendly stalls (such as the Rondeel) are concrete examples.
However, scientific advancement inevitably prompts complex ethical questions. They mainly involve socially sensitive subjects, as in the case of developing new methods for hatching only laying hens or producing phytophthora-resistent potatoes via gene technology. Scientists themselves also work in an environment where other interests, such as commercial interests, play a role.
The main body of Prof. Gremmen´s research remit will involve analyzing and evaluating the dynamics of standards and values in complex innovation processes, as well as working together with researchers, government and social organizations to decide on safe and reliable ways of dealing with and applying life sciences. His job will be to link natural sciences with social sciences and humanities, to find creative and innovative ways of tackling new, looming social problems. Standard solutions do not usually suffice, as we are unable to put aside our firm convictions and deep-seated customs, says Gremmen.
Bart (H.G.J.) Gremmen (Oss, 1956) graduated in philosophy (cum laude) at Radboud University Nijmegen and was awarded a PhD at the University of Twente. His specialist subject was making use of science within society and he was supervised by Professor Arie Rip. He has worked as Assistant and Associate Professor in the Applied Philosophy Group at Wageningen University since 1989. His other tasks include director of META, the Centre for Methodical Ethics & Technology Assessment at Wageningen UR, and leader of the Society and Genomics programme at the Centre for BioSystems Genomics in Wageningen.