The publication of "The New Production of Knowledge" in 1994 introduced the term "Mode 2" to describe a shift in scientific research from disciplined, investigator-led projects to cross-disciplinary, problem-solving endeavors. Helga Nowotny, a central figure in this sociological transformation, has spent decades navigating the complex intersection between institutional research policy and the societal implications of emerging technologies.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Born in Vienna in 1937, Nowotny pursued early studies in jurisprudence at the University of Vienna, graduating with a doctorate in 1959. Despite encountering gender-based resistance when seeking a position in the Department of Criminology, she secured the role and pivoted toward the sociology of science. In 1965, she relocated to New York City to enroll in a sociology doctoral program at Columbia University. Mentored by Robert K. Merton and Paul Lazarsfeld, she completed her Ph.D. in 1969 with a thesis focused on macrosociology.
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Returning to Austria, Nowotny held positions at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna before establishing herself as a leading scholar in science studies. Her work across the 1970s and 1980s addressed scientific controversy, technological risk, and the nature of social time. Her 1989 monograph "Eigenzeit" explored the postmodern experience of time. Throughout the 1990s, her focus expanded to include the changing dynamics between research policy and public demand, specifically investigating high-superconductivity research and its broader impacts.
Leadership in European Research Policy
Nowotny held significant administrative roles in European science policy, including chairing the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) from 2001 to 2006. As a founding member of the European Research Council (ERC), she served as Vice President before being elected President in 2010. During her tenure, which concluded in 2013, she advocated for increased funding to support scientific excellence and mitigate the loss of talent across European borders. She later chaired the ERA Council Forum Austria.
Institutional Appointments and Honours
Nowotny held faculty appointments at ETH Zurich, where she served as Director of the Collegium Helveticum, and the University of Vienna, where she led the Institute for Theory and Social Studies of Science. Her contributions have been recognized with the John Desmond Bernal Prize in 2003, the Prize of the City of Vienna for the Humanities in 2008, and the President's Medal of the British Academy in 2017. She remains a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Academia Europaea.
Fast facts
- Born: 1937, Vienna, Austria
- Ph.D. in Sociology: Columbia University, 1969
- Doctor of Philosophy: University of Vienna, 1959
- President of the European Research Council: 2010-2013
- John Desmond Bernal Prize: 2003
- Primary Field: Science studies
- Notable Book: The New Production of Knowledge, 1994
- Member: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Questions readers ask
What is Mode 2 research?
Mode 2 is a form of applied research characterized by problem-solving efforts that occur across traditional academic disciplines, contrasted with Mode 1 basic research.
What did Helga Nowotny focus on as President of the European Research Council?
She focused on promoting increased research funding and advising new EU member states on supporting national programs to prevent the brain drain of researchers.
Achievements
- Great Silver Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
- John Desmond Bernal Prize — 2003
- Prize of the City of Vienna for the Humanities — 2008
- President's Medal — 2017
- Held posts at University of Vienna and ETH Zurich
- Fields: science studies
