Personalia
Femke Nijboer, born in Almelo, The Netherlands, in 1979. Ph.D. from University of Tübingen. Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology at Leiden University.
For Women in Science Fellow (1 Sept 2016 – 31 Jan 2017)
Inclusive and Responsible Innovation of Neurotechnology
Project Description
Brain-Computer Interfaces are systems that can potentially help people with locked-in syndrome or advanced ALS to communicate with their brain activity. There is still relatively little debate and exchange between people who develop BCIs, ethicists and potential end-users. In my current Veni project I develop a novel and interdisciplinary approach, based on Value-Sensitive Design, Constructive Technology Assessment and Art, to promote inclusive and responsible innovation of Brain-Computer Interfaces. Art is used to help people imagine and debate about future design scenarios. With a fellowship at NIAS I would like to write the “grand finale” paper about this overall approach. In addition, I would like to write an ERC Starting Grant proposal to test this approach in the development of other neurotechnologies and to further investigate how values of end-users can be integrated in the design of neurotechnology.
Selected Publications
1: Nijboer, F., Clausen, J., Allison, B., & Haselager, P. (2013). The Asilomar Survey: Stakeholders’ Opinions on Ethical Issues Related to Brain-Computer Interfacing. Neuroethics, 6(3), 541-578. doi: 10.1007/s12152-011-9132-6
2: Nijboer, F., Plass-Oude Bos, A., Blokland, Y., Van Wijk, R., & Farquhar, J. (2014). Design requirements and potential target users for brain-computer interfaces – recommendations from rehabilitation professionals. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 1.