Dr. Christine Boshuijzen-van Burken appointed associate professor of Christian Philosophy at Eindhoven University of Technology
The Foundation for Christian Philosophy has appointed Dr. Christine Boshuijzen-van Burken as associate professor of Christian Philosophy at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) effective March 1, 2024. In the appointment, Boshuijzen-van Burken will focus on ethics and philosophy of technology.
Ethics of technology and practice
Within this position, Boshuijzen-van Burken will focus on the relationship between new technological developments such as artificial intelligence and digital connectivity, for example, and moral principles and values of the Christian tradition.
Boshuijzen-van Burken: "New technologies require ethical thinking through and responsible embedding in both professions and society as a whole. Think for example of artificial intelligence (AI), which has promising applications in medical diagnostics, but is also used for military purposes in current conflicts, or by students using ChatGTP for their studies. The current view of responsible application and development often focuses on principles that AI developers must consider. For example, AI must be 'traceable' and 'manageable,' and ensure 'human dignity.' In my research, I want to look beyond principles and delve into the relationship between technology and a good way of living and working.
Technologies such as AI do not function in a vacuum, but various actors exert influence on their development and use. Some primarily experience the benefits, but others are unintentionally disadvantaged. I want to help new engineers think more broadly about the implications of technology on society."
A new generation of engineers
Dr. Teunis Brand, director of Foundation for Christian Philosophy, sees the chair as a unique opportunity to nurture the next generation of engineers: "Eindhoven University of Technology is a place where a new generation of scientists and engineers is being trained. Some of them will later occupy important social positions. The chair contributes to the formation of students to appreciate their own field and to reflect on it critically from a Christian philosophy perspective. Because of her knowledge and experience, Christine Boshuijzen-van Burken can contribute to connecting technology and Christian philosophy."
Boshuijzen-van Burken has long been involved with Foundation for Christian Philosophy. She attended lectures as a student with Prof. Dr. Egbert Schuurman (emeritus), received her doctorate from Prof. Dr. Marc de Vries and previously served on the board. She is currently a member of the editorial board of the book series Accountability and the editorial board of Philosophia Reformata, and she writes columns for the journal Sophie.
Christine Boshuijzen-van Burken’s career
Dr. Christine Boshuijzen-van Burken holds a PhD in the ethics and philosophy of technology. She holds a BSc in Movement Technology (2002), a BSc in Mechanical Engineering (2004) and an MA in Christian Studies of Science and Society from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2006). She worked as a mechanical engineer for several years before embarking on a PhD program. Her dissertation was on military technology and ethics.
She previously worked as a researcher and lecturer at Eindhoven University of Technology, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands Defense Academy and Linnaeus University in Sweden. She was assistant director for the OZSW (Dutch Research School of Philosophy) from 2014-2018.
Christine currently works as a senior researcher at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) at the Australian Defense Force Academy (ADFA) in Canberra, Australia. Her current research is on Value Sensitive Design of autonomous systems.
Note: This article was translated to English from the original Dutch using DeepL Translator.