Saskia Nagel, Netherlands

University of Twente

WG4-member

I work in philosophy and ethics of technologies and philosophy and ethics of human-technology interaction in particular. During my studies and my PhD, I did empirical research on sensory augmentation (via wearables) having a background in cognitive science (mainly neuroscience and AI). Thus, the COST action combines my empirical and ELSA interests in human-technology relation.
I have a track record in neuroethics with a focus on questions around autonomy and responsibility throughout life.
My work on neuro-enhancement has influenced the report of the US Presidential Bioethics Committee, and I developed a position paper for physician organisations in 2013.
Recently, I am working on the ethical and social questions of technologies of the extended mind (which can be wearables).
I am particularly interested in ethical questions around new decision-making processes that can be distributed, questions of autonomy, agency, and the impact on self-understanding. Thinking about our relationships to our devices is a central interest of mine with a recent project on persuasive technologies and trust.

In 2016, I was granted a 5-year grant from the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) Innovational Research Incentives Scheme Vidi (Techno-sapiens? – Ethics of Technologies of the Extended Mind).

I am currently involved in the EU Horizon2020 – SWAFS, coordination and support action SIENNA – Stakeholder-informed ethics for new technologies with high socio-economic and human rights Impact.

  • Reiner, P.B. and Nagel, S.K (2017): Technologies of the Extended Mind: Defining the Issues. In: Illes, J. and Hossain, S. (eds.) Neuroethics: Anticipating the Future. Oxford University Press.
  • Nagel, S.K., Hrincu, V. and P.B. Reiner (2016): Algorithm anxiety – Do decision-making algorithms pose a threat to autonomy? IEEE Ethics 2016.
  • Nagel, S.K. and Reiner, P.B. (2013): Autonomy support to foster individuals’ flourishing. American Journal of Bioethics 13 (6): 36-37.
  • Graf, W.D., Nagel, S.K., Epstein, L.G., Miller, G., Nass, R. and Larriviere, D. (2013): Pediatric neuroenhancement: ethical, legal, social, and neurodevelopmental implications. Neurology, 80 (13): 1251-1260.
  • Nagel, S. K., Carl, C., Kringe, T., Märtin, R., & König. P. (2005): Beyond sensory substitution – learning the sixth sense, Journal of Neural Engineering, 2: R13-R26.