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Biotechnology: Possibilities, Risks, Ethics
and Society - An international symposium in connection with the Science
Generation
project, organised by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
(IVA)
The audience included some 100 representatives
of the Science Generation project from Sweden, Italy and France.
There was also a mix of people from many different organisations
attending. Many were teachers and students, and there were also
representatives from government agencies, industry, the media, NGO´s
and others. The speakers and round table discussion
participants included scientists, lawyers and ethicists as well as representatives
from NGOs, industry, the European Commission and the Church of Sweden.
Teachers, students and parents involved in the project were also taking part.
The representatives of the Science Generation project met prior to the
symposium at the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences on August 23rd.
This meeting included discussions on what activities have been launched
in the three participant countries, and what further activities are currently being planned.
This meeting was also used to follow up discussions held previously
within local mobilisation channels. These earlier local meetings
had been held to discuss which issues it was most important to raise during the symposium.
The four moderators who were to chair the round table discussions were
also involved in this meeting to ensure they were fully up
to date with which issues they needed to bring up during the
symposium discussions.
This meeting was followed by a symposium dinner,
held for representatives of the Science Generation project,
the speakers and the round table discussion participants.
The symposium on August 24th included excellent presentations by the
Swedish Minister for Education and Science, Thomas Östros,
and two Directors from the European Commission DG Research,
Dr. Christian Patermann and Dr. Rainer Gerold. Many prominent
scientists such as Professor Philip J Dale, Professor Ingo
Potrykus, Professor Mathias Uhlén and Assistant Professor
Marie Allen also gave excellent and insightful presentations.
There was also an insightful and thought-provoking introduction
to the discussion on genetic integrity by Archbishop KG Hammar. The two round table discussions
on
genetically modified crops and genetic integrity were extremely interesting
and lively, with many different views being voiced and many questions
asked and answered.
You can read more about what was actually said by following the
link to the right.
On the right you can find links to photos from the event,
the PowerPoint presentations of the lectures, the participant
list, abstracts of the presentations, short texts about the
participants on the podium, and of course the programme of events.
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