Research and Scientific Advice in the Second Modernity: Technology Assessment, Responsible Research and Innovation, and Sustainability Research

The scientific and technological advance has been a major driving force of modernization for centuries. However, the 20th century was full indications diagnoses deep crisis modernity. Currently, debates on limits to growth, pollution, climate change indicate serious threatening lack sustainability so-called ‘first modernity’. This modernity motivated scholars develop concepts modernizing modernity, with approach ‘reflexive modernization’ reach ‘second modernity’ being prominent. In this paper, Technology Assessment (TA), Responsible Research Innovation (RRI), Sustainability (SR) are regarded as manifestations reflexive in field problem-oriented transformative research. paper aims (a) unfold hypothesis regarding TA, RRI, SR approaches within modernization, (b) clarify respective meaning ‘reflexive’ these approaches, (c) identify commonalities well differences between three (d) draw conclusions relation further development SR.