“As a scholar, one is committed to truth,” says Professor Silja Vöneky—a guiding principle throughout her two decades at the intersection of law and ethics. Beginning at Heidelberg’s Max Planck Institute in 1995 with environmental law, Vöneky’s focus pivoted dramatically after 9/11. She controversially argued that the Geneva Conventions might apply to terrorism if state involvement could be proven.
Her career spans international law, bioethics, and most recently, the legal regulation of artificial intelligence—always prioritizing rigorous, principled debate over political convenience. Vöneky’s impact isn’t just academic: she’s brought theory into practice as a peace negotiator in Sudan and expert in Antarctic treaty talks.
In conversation with MPIL’s Silvia Steininger, Vöneky reflects on how academia itself has changed: from hierarchical meetings to more collaborative, interdisciplinary work. Her story illustrates the ongoing challenge for scholars—upholding foundational principles while adapting to a rapidly changing world.
About Silja Vöneky
Professor Silja Vöneky is one of Germany’s most influential legal scholars at the crossroads of international law, ethics, and technology. As a judge on the Constitutional Court of Baden-Württemberg and Professor at the University of Freiburg, she has shaped thinking on the legal and ethical governance of AI and biotechnology. Vöneky’s career began with environmental law and expanded to global legal responses to terrorism after 9/11, where her rigorous, independent approach advanced the application of humanitarian principles. She has chaired major ethics councils, led interdisciplinary research from German and international platforms, and is known for bridging law, philosophy, and technical innovation. Her commitment to public service, mentorship, and truth has established her as a leading voice on how democracies confront the legal challenges brought about by rapid scientific and technological change.
