ESRC: Media invite: Can our society can keep pace with advances in biology, ask experts

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Wednesday, 15, Oct 2008 12:00

The ESRC Genomics Network’s international conference ‘Genomics and Society: Reinventing Life?’ London on 27-28 October 2008.

In a world where recent advances in stem cells, DNA databases and GM biofuels are already impacting on daily life, is society equipped to deal with the implications? Are some scientific discoveries changing our lives faster than we can handle?

Is the increase in biometric information being collected from us acceptable – and is the information securely stored? With human eggs and other cells being used for research, and biotechnology companies now patenting our genes, do we even own our own bodies? And are our laws and regulations managing to keep pace with such developments?

Sessions will concentrate on issues surrounding the use and safekeeping of our personal biological information, the development of sustainable biofuels, and the creation - for stem cell research - of human-animal hybrids.

The impact of the credit crunch on research into new medicines and treatments will also be considered in a session led by two eminent economics experts, Professor Gary Pisano of Harvard University, and Professor William Lazonick of the University of Massachusetts.

Other topics to be discussed range from the ethical impacts of emerging disciplines such as synthetic biology - which attempts to recreate living systems in the laboratory and may one day produce artificial life-forms - to the likely contributions the life sciences will make to global challenges such as food security and climate change.

The gathering is the annual conference of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Genomics Network, and it brings together social and natural scientists with policy makers and commentators, from all over the globe. This year it has been organised by the network’s Innogen centre, which is based at the University of Edinburgh and the Open University.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

FOR MEDIA ATTENDANCE:

Media places are limited so if you wish to attend, please contact Lara Crossland (Tel: 0131 650 2842, email lara.crossland@ed.ac.uk)

For interviews with speakers in advance of the conference please contact Dave Stevens (Tel: 07967819277, email dsteven2@staffmail.ed.ac.uk)

ESRC PRESS OFFICE:

Kelly Barnett (Tel: 01793 413032 / 07826874166, email: kelly.barnett@esrc.ac.uk)

Danielle Moore (Tel: 01793 413122, email: danielle.moore@esrc.ac.uk)

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Genomics and Society: Reinventing Life? 9am – 5pm 27 October -28 October

2 Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL

2. OUTLINE

(The full programme can be downloaded at www.genomicsandsociety.org)

Monday

Welcome from Professor Charlie Jeffery, Chair of the ESRC Strategic Research Board

Keynote lecture by Professor Paul Rabinow, University of California at Berkeley on the implications of synthetic biology – including its potential to create ‘artificial life’.

Sessions include:

• safeguarding DNA databases

• sustainable biofuel development

• the use of human-animal hybrids in research

• life sciences in developing countries

• innovation in the pharmaceutical industry

• synthetic biology

• meet the authors: 'Genomes and What to Make of Them'

• life sciences and the credit crunch

Tuesday

Keynote lecture from Professor Bartha Maria Knoppers, University of Montreal on the ethics of the use of the human genome.

The Knowledge Exchange – debates on (1) the regulation of stem cell therapies and (2) the importance of life sciences to national economies, job creation and sustainable development within the EU

Genomics Futures Panel – a discussion over the future roles for the life sciences in tackling major issues such as climate change, human diseases and food security.

Closing Keynote lecture from Dr Iain Gillespie, Head of Biotechnology Division, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on how policy can ensure genomics serves society.

3. The ESRC Genomics Network Launched in 2002 to examine the social and economic consequences surrounding the development and use of genomics, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Genomics Network is one of the ESRC’s largest social science investments. The Network.consists of: Cesagen (Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics) a Cardiff-Lancaster collaboration led by Professor Ruth Chadwick; Egenis (ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society) headed by Professor John Dupré at Exeter; and Innogen (ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics) - collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and the Open University, directed by Professor David Wield; and the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum, led by Professor Steve Yearley, Professor of the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge at University of Edinburgh. http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/

4. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research which impacts on business, the public sector and the third sector. The ESRC's planned total expenditure in 2008/09 is £203 million. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes. More at http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk