Zandvoort, H. (Henk)
Research profile
Henk Zandvoort (1951) is associate professor in ethics and technology at Delft University. He did a master’s degree in physical chemistry and in philosophy of the natural sciences, and a PhD (Models of scientific development and the case of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) in philosophy, at the University of Groningen. Between 1986 and 1997 his main assignment was at the Dutch Ministry of Education and Sciences, in a range of policy functions related to higher education and university research. He has been associated with Delft University of Technology since 1991.
His research aims at formulating and implementing requirements that should be satisfied for responsible and coherent assessment, management and regulation of the risks of modern technology, and for responsible and coherent private (economic) and collective (political) decision making about these risks. At the centre of his research are two requirements that should be satisfied in order to respect ethical principles and in order to safeguard social progress: (1) Decision making regarding technological risks should be performed on the basis of consensus among all those who will experience the possible consequences; (2) Liability for possible damage from risky activities should be absolute and unlimited for activities that lack the informed consent of those who may experience the consequences. The implications of these requirements are assessed for:
The procedures in use for taking political decisions regarding technological risks;
Liability laws and laws governing legal persons such as corporations;
The processes of and methods for assessing and managing risks in technology producing and controlling organisations.
Scientific publications (selection)
Zandvoort, H. 2009. Engineering education for a sustainable, just and peaceful society. Presentation held at the TEK Sustainable Development Seminar, 19 November 2009, , Helsinki
Zandvoort, H. 2008. Risk Zoning and Risk Decision Making. International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management 8 (1-2):3-18.available online
Zandvoort, H., Van Hasselt, G. J. and Bonnet, J. A. B. A. F. (2008) 'A joint venture model for teaching required courses in 'ethics and engineering' to engineering students', European Journal of Engineering Education, 33:2, 187 - 195.available online
Zandvoort, H 2008. Preparing engineers for social responsibility. European journal of engineering education 32 (2):133-140.available online
Zandvoort, H 2008. European journal of engineering education 32 (2).
Zandvoort, H. 2007. Necessary Knowledge for Social Responsibility of Scientists and Engineers. Paper read at Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Education 2007, at Coimbra.
Zandvoort, H. 2007. Preparing Engineers for Social Responsibility: Report of the Tree Special Interest Group D6 Ethical Issues in Engineering Education. In Re-Engineering Engineering Education in Europe, edited by C. Borri and F. Maffioli: University of Firenze.
Zandvoort, H. 2007. Report of a Workshop on Social Responsibility and Engineering Education, Sefi Annual Conference 2006, Uppsala, N.A.: Sefi Working Group Ethics in Engineering Education and Sefi Tree Special Interest Group D6 Ethical Issues in Engineering Education.available online
Zandvoort, H. 2006. Liability and Insurance as an Instrument for Responsible and Effective Risk Management. Paper read at Complex systems approaches for safety, security and reliability: Proceedings of SSR 2006, at Vienna, Austria
Zandvoort, H. 2006. Necessary Knowledge for Social Responsibility of Engineers. Paper read at Engineering education and active students: Proceedings of the 34th SEFI Conference, at Uppsala.
Zandvoort, H., G.J. van Hasselt, and J.A.B.A.F. Bonnet. 2006. Ten Years of Teaching Courses in 'Ethics and Engineering' for Applied Sciences at Delft University of Technology: The Story of a Successful Teaching Model. Paper read at Engineering education and active students: Proceedings of the 34th SEFI Annual Conference, at Uppsala.
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Conditions for Social Acceptability of Different Energy Systems (Nuclear, Fossil, Renewables). Paper read at Conference Safety & Security of Energy Infrastructures in a Comparative View (SEIF-CV), 16-11-2005, at Brussel.
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Ethics in the Engineering Curricula. Paper read at Follow-up Symposium to the 1999 UNESCO World Conference on Science, 15-04-2005, at Copenhagen.
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Future Points for Discussion, and Plans for Action. Paper read at Follow-up Symposium to the 1999 UNESCO World Conference on Science, 16-04-2005, at Copenhagen.
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Globalisation, Environmental Harm, and Progress: The Role of Consensus and Liability. Water Science and Technology 52 (6):43-50.available online
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Good Engineers Need Good Laws. European journal of engineering education 30 (1):21-36.available online
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Risk and Emergency Zoning Seen from the Combined Perspectives of Economics, Ethics and Public Choice. Paper read at Proceedings of the JRC/OECD Seminar on Emergency & Risk Zoning around Nuclear Power Plants, at Petten.
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Structured Summary: Good Engineers Need Good Laws. Annals of research on engineering education 1 (2).available online
Zandvoort, H. 2004. Comments on Wempe: Conditions for Ethical Business. In Ethics for Life Scientists, edited by M. Korthals and R. Bogers. Dordrecht: Springer Verlag.available online
Zandvoort, H. 2003. Good Engineers Need Good Laws. Proceedings of 31st SEFI Conference 2003. Portugal
Zandvoort, H., Van de Poel, I.R. & Brumsen, M. 2000. Ethics in the engineering curricula: topics, trends and challenges for the future. European Journal of Engineering Education 25 (4):291-302.available online
Professional/Popular publications (selection)
Zandvoort, H. 2005. Knowledge, Risk, and Liability: Analysis of a Discussion Continuing within Science and Technology. In Cognitive Structures in Scientific Inquiry: Essays in Debate with Theo Kuipers, edited by R. Festa, A. Aliseda and F. Peijnenburg. Amsterdam: Rodopi.available online
Teaching
- wm0320tn Ethics for applied physics
- wm0329stm Ethics
- spm5110 Ethical aspects of design and management of technology
