The TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology at the Technical University of Munich (Germany) is honored to award two Friedrich Schiedel Prizes for Social Sciences and Technology 2025 – to Professor Ulrike Felt (University of Vienna) and Professor Martha Minow (Harvard University).
The prizes recognize two outstanding scholars whose work bridges science, technology, ethics, and society – embodying Friedrich Schiedel’s vision of advancing responsible innovation through interdisciplinary excellence.
“This year’s Friedrich Schiedel Prizes honor two visionary thinkers who remind us that scholarship is not only about knowledge, but about service to humanity,” said Urs Gasser, Dean of the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology and Chair of the Selection Committee. “Ulrike Felt and Martha Minow exemplify intellectual brilliance joined with moral courage and leadership. Their work redefines how we understand the nexus of technology, justice, and human responsibility – and continues to inspire the values of reflection and responsibility that define our School.”
“STS research pushes us to ask not only what and how we can innovate, but what kind of world we want to bring into being – and how we can do so together across boundaries in an increasingly fractured and unequal world. I am deeply honored and inspired to receive this award, as it recognizes the value of the collaborative, engaging, boundary-crossing work that lies at the heart of TUM’s School of Social Sciences and Technology.” – Prof. Ulrike Felt
“The interdisciplinary approach of the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology exemplifies the integration of perspectives and disciplines critical to advancing human welfare in this age of rapid technological innovation, and I am humbled and honored by this meaningful award. It inspires me to work globally to center the dignity and potential of human beings amid this transformative time.” – Prof. Martha Minow
Professor Ulrike Felt
University of Vienna (Austria)
Professor Ulrike Felt is one of Europe’s leading voices in science and technology studies (STS). As long-time head of the Department of Science and Technology Studies at the University of Vienna, she has shaped how we think about the relationship between knowledge, innovation, and society.
Her research spans biomedicine, environmental and climate studies, and digital transformation, exploring how science and technology interact with public values and institutions. Her current ERC-funded project, Innovation Residues, examines the lasting societal traces of scientific progress.
Beyond her scholarship, Professor Felt has played a central role in shaping research communities and institutions across Europe. She served as President of the European Association for the Study of Science and Technology (EASST) and has been recognized with the Ziman Award, the Ars Docendi State Prize, and the 2024 Prize of the City of Vienna for her outstanding research in the social sciences and humanities. At TUM, she contributed to the development of the university’s STS program through her advisory work with the former MCTS and collaborations with current faculty.
Professor Martha Minow
Harvard University (United States)
Professor Martha Minow, the 300th Anniversary Professor at Harvard University and former Dean of Harvard Law School, is a globally recognized scholar at the intersection of law, ethics, and technology.
Her research explores how societies respond to inequality and injustice, particularly for marginalized groups. In works such as Distrust of Artificial Intelligence and Social Media Companies Should Pursue Serious Self-Supervision, she advances ethical frameworks for governing digital technologies and protecting democratic values.
Beyond academia, Professor Minow has led influential initiatives, including the UNHCR program Imagine Co-existence and collaborations with the U.S. Department of Education to promote digital inclusion for children with disabilities. As former chair of the MacArthur Foundation Board, she champions global innovation, inclusion, and human rights.
Her contributions have been recognized with the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Lifetime Award, and numerous honorary doctorates.
About the Friedrich Schiedel Prizes for Social Sciences and Technology
The Friedrich Schiedel Prize for Social Sciences and Technology was first awarded in 2023 by the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology at the Technical University of Munich to strengthen the social sciences and interdisciplinary research at TUM.
In 2025, two prizes are presented, each endowed with 30,000 euros, recognizing outstanding scholars and changemakers in the broader field of social sciences and technology. The prizes include a research stay of several weeks at the TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, fostering dialogue and collaboration across disciplines.
The Friedrich Schiedel Foundation, founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Friedrich Schiedel (1913–2001), supports social institutions and projects and promotes science and research. Friedrich Schiedel was an honorary senator of the Technical University of Munich.