The dynamic development of genome research raises fundamental ethical and social questions concerning its implications for our societies, a fact which equally applies to other emerging technosciences such as nanotechnology or “converging technologies”. Over the past decades, methods have been developed to reflexively engage with the implications of new technoscientific knowledge for social order. Ethical reflection and public engagement with the social dimensions of technoscientific development are two traditions dealing with these issues. Though both may be argued to share common goals, their relation to each other is unclear and often controversial as is reflected in the debate around “empirical ethics”.
This workshop is the concluding event of the ELSA project “Let’s talk about GOLD! Analysing the interactions between genome-research(ers) and the public as a learning process“, which aimed at experimenting with a cross-over between these two traditions: engaging both scientists and members of the public with the ethical dimensions of genome research. Over the period of one year, a group of people met with genome researchers at seven Round Tables to discuss the ethical and social dimensions of their concrete project and genome research in general. To develop a better understanding of this engagement and possible mutual learning processes is the central goal of our project.
The workshop, organised from the 21st to the 23rd of September at the Department of Social Studies of Science, University of Wien, aims at sharing and discussing the results of our analysis with the scientific community and practitioners working on similar issues.
Among the speakers, Mariachiara Tallacchini, professor of Philosophy of Law at the Law Faculty of the Catholic University of Piacenza and Brian Wynne, professor of Sociology of Science at Lancaster University.
More information on the University of Wien webpages.
