Nicole C. Karafyllis

Prof. Dr. Nicole C. Karafyllis is a Full Professor of Philosophy at TU Braunschweig's Institute of Philosophy, serving as its rotating Chair. Born in Germany to a Greek father and German mother, she holds dual academic credentials in Biology and Philosophy from Erlangen-Nürnberg University (M.Sc. 1994) and a Ph.D. from Tübingen University (1999). Her academic career includes roles at the UAE University (2008) and visiting positions at Vienna University (2007) and Stirling University (1992). She specializes in Philosophy of Science and Technology, particularly at biotech/engineering interfaces, with emphases on Environmental Ethics, Bioethics, and Intercultural Philosophy.

Her research integrates historical and contemporary perspectives, including projects on microbial collections (MIKROBIB), seed banks' ethics, and plant ontology. Notable works include a biography of philosopher Willy Moog and co-edited volumes on Francis Bacon and Georg Simmel's intellectual legacy. She leads interdisciplinary initiatives like the TECHcultures project on science education and the BMBF-funded 'language of biofacts' study. Her work bridges philosophy with STEM fields through critical analysis of technical and ethical dimensions in modern science.

Key projects include the contaminated library exhibit (2021) exploring microbial contamination in book culture and collaborative efforts on Arab world philosophy. Her academic trajectory reflects a commitment to cross-cultural and intergenerational dialogue in philosophy, with a focus on how technical systems shape human-environment relationships.