Klaus Tschira, physicist and co-founder of SAP, established his foundation as a non-profit GmbH based in Heidelberg. Since 1995, the Klaus Tschira Foundation has been dedicated to supporting natural sciences, mathematics and computer science, with a strong focus on research, education and science communication. Among its key missions is fostering dialogue between researchers and the public.
These objectives align perfectly with the goals of the MoralPLai project. We are therefore proud to announce that, following a successful evaluation of the funding application, the MoralPLai team has secured funding from the Klaus Tschira Foundation. This support will help in establishing accompanying communication and research around the project (including an impact assessment and audience feedback) and will play a crucial role in advancing the project’s mission to bridge the gap between scientific research and society.
“The MoralPLai project applies and analyses an engagement tool that gains more and more of a momentum in science communication: research-based theatre. With our funding, we are happy to support the interdisciplinary teams behind MoralPLai in understanding how research-based theatre can engage audiences. In further, it defines a novel approach for circular knowledge transfer. We are excited to see the research on AI Ethics taking the stage and are curious as to how this tool effects audiences and researchers alike.” Verena Viarisio, Programme Manager Science Communication, Klaus Tschira Foundation
“Good research needs to be understandable. To echo Klaus Tschira’s words, breaking down academic silos is essential for communicating research findings to a broader audience. In this context, MoralPLai Project was designed from the outset to make research findings more accessible through the creative power of the arts—specifically, research-based theater. We aim to bridge rigorous academic research and the arts to explore AI’s impact on human decision-making and foster a dialogue that engages all relevant stakeholders: academia, industry, policymakers and civil society. Having the support of a foundation that has been championing science communication for thirty years, empowering citizens with access to trustworthy, high-quality information, is not only an invaluable opportunity but also a perfect fit for us.” Anastasia Aritzi, Communications Consultant, MoralPLai Project
About MoralPLai:
The project brings together leading universities from Europe and the U.S., such as metaLAB (at) Harvard, the University of Notre Dame/ Notre Dame-IBM Tech Ethics Lab and the Technical University of Munich. It aims to develop and implement a creative approach to conducting, educating and communicating AI ethics research through the lens of the arts.
At the heart of the project is a series of qualitative interviews examining the impact of AI systems on human ethical decision-making. The findings will be adapted into a theater script, set to be performed at Amerikahaus on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in the heart of Munich.
Explore the MoralPLai Project webpage to learn more, and stay tuned for more updates.
Photo Credit: Patrick Gerstorfer/Science Notes
