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Dual Use refers to the dual or multiple usability of research for both civilian and military purposes. The central aim of science, to make social conditions more humane, can thus be reversed under certain circumstances and findings can be misused and exploited. This results in social hazards or ecological damage that responsible university research must consider and critically discuss.
The aspect of dual use includes both the production of “knowledge”, through which power asymmetries or forms of discrimination can be maintained and reinforced, as well as “technologies” and “artifacts” that have actually been developed and produced by humans for peaceful purposes, but are also used for socially harmful purposes.
The Dahlem Campus itself provides extraordinarily significant evidence of the history of science for the dual use problem. One example is the intensive research into nitrogen chemistry 100 years ago, personified by Fritz Haber at the Max Planck Society institute of the same name, which brought the world both artificial fertilizers for agriculture and explosives.

The exhibition deals with current dual use challenges at the FU Berlin, which are examined from different disciplinary perspectives. The exhibition offers a wide range of information for a critical and responsible examination of the topic as well as dialogs for further reflection with selected art objects by eight international artists: Chan Sook Choi, Chelsea Leventhal, Douglas Henderson, Gretta Louw, Marcus Ahlers, Ruben Aubrecht, Peer Kriesel and Helena Her. With their contributions, they break up the purely informative character of the exhibition and open up scope for new social and academic approaches and ways of thinking.

Photos: Maria Schlosser
Curator: Jason Benedict

27.10.- 8.11.2023 | Vernissage: 26.10. from 17:30

Time and place
The exhibition “DUAL USE – Ambivalent Science” can be seen from October 27 to November 8, 2023 during the regular opening hours of the Henry Ford Building, Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as during special opening hours at public events.

More information as download PDF

Freie Universität Berlin, Henry Ford Building
Garystrasse 35
14195 Berlin