SEAS Event Calendar

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Public Access

4:00pm
8:00am
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm
2:00pm
3:00pm	[3:30pm-5:00pm] Promoting ?Ethics Talk’: Lessons from Engagements with Bioscientists about the D
5:00pm

Description:: Department of Science, Technology and Society
Fall 2009 Colloquium Series

Speaker: Brian Rappert, Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Public Affairs in the Department
of Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Exeter, Devon UK

Title: Promoting ?Ethics Talk’: Lessons from Engagements with Bioscientists about the Dual-use
Dilemma

Date: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Time: 3:30 ? 5:00 p.m.

Location: Rodman Room

Abstract:
This presentation will examine the changing conditions of work of science professionals vis-?-vis the societal regulation of their work. More specifically, post 9-11 the relationship between national security and research has been a topic that has received considerable attention. As part of this, questions have been raised by national science academies, international organizations, and security agencies regarding whether the knowledge and techniques generated through fundamental and applied life science research might facilitate the production of bioweapons. This has resulted in debate regarding whether controls should be placed on what gets done, how, and whether information is widely circulated. Arguably this sort of discussion challenges many of the traditional presumptions of biologists regarding the implications of their research, its proper governance, and their professional identity.

This presentation elaborates the methods employed in and findings of some 120 seminars with practicing scientists and students in 15 countries about the so-called ?dual use’ aspects of life science research. There have been two aims to these seminars: one, to inform participants about current ?biosecurity’ debates and second, to generate interactive discussion about the merits of proposed policy responses. His presentation recounts some of the interactions in the seminars with a view to considering the tensions and lessons associated with efforts to promote responsive life science and social research.

Brief Bio:
Brian Rappert is an Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Public Affairs in the Department of Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Exeter.

Brian’s long term concern has been the social and ethical dilemmas associated with modern science and technology. He has sought to examine how choices about the adoption and regulation of technology are made where there is uncertainty and disagreement.

In recent years, much of his work has been directed towards the social, political, moral and technical aspects of the use of force by military and police organizations. The central substantive concerns herein are two-fold, to examine: how claims about the acceptability of the use of force are justified and how notions of what constitutes responsible conduct by security-related agencies are negotiated. Considering how public commentators attempt to justify contentions about what constitutes ?acceptable force’ has led him to more theoretical questions about the basis of knowledge claims and the politics of representation.

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