19, 20 March 2007
Simon Woods is a senior lecturer at the Policy, Ethics and Life Sciences Research Institute (PEALS), University of Newcastle (UK) where he is the Director of Learning. PEALS is an ethics ‘Think Tank’ involved in research teaching and public engagement on the ethical and social implications of the life sciences. Simon also works closely with the ‘Life Knowledge Park’ – the Genetics Knowledge Park in the North East, one of six created by the Department of Health; is a Fellow of the Institute of Medicine Law and Bioethics at the University of Manchester where he was formerly a Lecturer in Bioethics and has been a member of several research and clinical ethics committees in the UK.
There is a long tradition of using human tissues as the basis for research and as a “therapeutic” substance – organ transplantation, blood transfusion and cell infusion. Knowledge and expertise in human reproduction combined with knowledge of the human genome holds the promise of a major break through in medical science. The potential for using human stem cells as sources of “safe” transplant material has led to an international race to perfect the techniques and develop clinical application for what is being heralded as the true “panacea”; but at what cost? The talk will outline some of the basic science, the potential clinical applications and some of the social and ethical controversies that attend the human stem cell industry including destructive embryo research, egg and embryo donation, embryonic versus somatic stem cells, therapeutic and reproductive cloning.
25, 26 September 2006
Neil Champness is the Professor of Chemical Nanoscience at the University of Nottingham, UK. He is the founding Chairman of the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Group. His research concerns many aspects of molecular organisation and supramolecular chemistry, notably nanostructure formation on surfaces and in solution, crystal engineering and coordination polymer synthesis.
Nanotechnology has been labelled as either a great saviour or a great danger for society. On the one hand nanotechnology has been proposed as an answer for new computing technologies, new ways of cleaning the environment and new methods for improving people’s health. It has even been proposed that nanotechnologists could make tiny machines that could perform surgery inside people bodies! On the other hand nanotechnology has been described as one of the greatest dangers to the modern world, as dangerous as thalidomide, which will turn the world into “grey-goo”. Some reports have even described nanotechnology as one of the top ten things most likely to end the human race.
What is the reality of nanotechnology? What are the prospects and how far off are some of these ideas?
9, 10 March 2006
Mark Lynas was born in Fiji in 1973, and grew up in Peru, Spain and the UK. After gaining a first-class honours degree in history and politics from the University of Edinburgh (where he also edited the university’s student newspaper), he joined a web start-up called OneWorld.net – helping turn it into the world’s most-accessed internet portal for human rights and sustainable development issues. Since leaving OneWorld in 2000 to pursue research work on climate change, Mark has also been active as an environmental campaigner, broadcast commentator and journalist, writing for the Guardian, Observer, New Statesman and various other publications. His book High Tide: News from a Warming World was published by Flamingo on 1 March 2004. He lives in Oxford.
6 February 2006
Kevin Dunion, a prominent campaigner for freedom of information, a Board Member of Scottish Natural Heritage and of the Cabinet Sub Committee on a Sustainable Scotland, the author of Troublemakers - The Struggle for Environmental Justice in Scotland; since 2003 Kevin Dunion has taken up the role of Scottish Information Commissioner. He will argue that the voices of those most affected by any proposals must be give particular prominence in any decision making process; that all information must be made widely available on request, and not just that which the government wishes to put into the public domain; and that approaches to public consultation and engagement must be purposeful and allow participants to address issues, not just of science, but ethical, social and economic matters too.
Heather Reid is a weather forecaster with BBC Scotland and regulary contributes to science festivals, university events and seminars across the UK. She also works with Glasgow Science Centre, developing weather shows and workshops for schools and the public.
29 November 2005
After a BSc and PhD in Astrophysics, Richard completed an MSc in Energy Systems and Environment Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. After working for Community Service Volunteers and Strathclyde Regional Council, he was appointed Head of Research at Friends of the Earth Scotland in 1994. After 8 years working on issues as diverse as climate change and fish farming, he moved to become Head of Policy with WWF Scotland in September 2002. In this role Richard led a 6-strong policy team working on marine, freshwater, climate, education, sustainable development and resource consumption issues. Richard took over as Director of WWF Scotland in July.
Heather Reid is a weather forecaster with BBC Scotland and regulary contributes to science festivals, university events and seminars across the UK. She also works with Glasgow Science Centre, developing weather shows and workshops for schools and the public.
16 September 2005
David Reavy is a climatologist at Edinburgh University. He studies greenhouse gas emmisions in environments ranging from the Southern Ocean to evil-smelling drainage ditches. He has written numerous academic and popular articles about his work and is editor of the climate change website GreenHouse Gass Online.
Heather Reid is a weather forecaster with BBC Scotland and regulary contributes to science festivals, university events and seminars across the UK. She also works with Glasgow Science Centre, developing weather shows and workshops for schools and the public.
