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News

2011

CBET’s ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

• ‘Wittgenstein on Simile as the “Best Thing” in Philosophy’, was the title of a recent journal article written by Dr Yasemin J Erden and published in Philosophical Investigations, July 2011.
• As part of CBET’s ongoing participation in work concerning the ethical and social implications of nanotechnology, in September Dr Erden attended ‘Ethical, Social and Legal Dimensions of Nanomaterials’, a European Science Foundation Meeting on Human Nanotoxicology and Nanomedicine held in London.
• Dr Erden has recently written a chapter on ‘Ethics, Communication and Safety in the Use of PNFP’, for the book Ecosustainable Polymer Nanomaterials for Food Packaging (to be published by Brill) and a book review of “Embodiment and the Inner Life: Cognition and Consciousness in the Space of Possible Minds” for publication in the journal, Cognitive Computation.
• Dr Erden and Prof Mark Bishop (Goldsmiths College, London), co-authored an article ‘Computing and Philosophy, The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB) Conference Review’, which was published in The Reasoner, 5: 10 in September 2011.
• On Thursday 27th October 2011 Dr Erden participated in the European Workshop on the FP7 Ethics Review (e.g. the impact of procedures on the research community and research institution administration). The aim of the workshop was to improve the review mechanism for the forthcoming FP8 and was hosted at the University of Namur, Belgium.
• As part of CBET’s ongoing engagement with the intergovernmental framework for European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), particularly in regard to COST-FA090 Action, Dr Erden taught a session on ‘Ethics, Communication and Safety in the Use of Polymer Nanoparticles for Food Packaging’, as part of a Short Training School ‘Deepening the Knowledge in the Field of Nanomaterials for Food Packaging and Other Potential Uses’ in November 2011. The School was held at University Sts Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
• As part of The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB) and the International Association for Computing and Philosophy (IACAP) World Congress 2012 (hosted by University of Birmingham) in honour of Alan Turing, widely considered to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, a special symposium will be taking place entitled “‘Computing and Philosophy: Computing, Philosophy and the Question of Biological-Machine Hybrids”. Dr Erden has been appointed Symposium Executive-Officer for this symposium. She has also been recently appointed as Vice-leader, Inter Group Activity (young scientists) ‘Making the Future of Science in PNFP’ until May 2012 as well as co-editor for a special issue of Cognitive Computation (published by Springer), entitled ‘Computational Creativity, Intelligence and Autonomy’ (Publication date in 2012) until June 2012.

NANOTECHNOLOGY ETHICS

• After a successful 4-year tenure as the chair of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) group on labelling of nanomaterials and products, Prof Geoff Hunt has recently stepped down from the role. Commenting on achievements during that period Prof Hunt noted that the question of labelling nanoproducts is now more widely accepted and has been established as a principle to adhere to both now and in the future.
• Prof Geoff Hunt has recently been accepted as a member of the Society of Experimental Biology, and also as a member of the EU’s NanoSafety Cluster of projects dealing with health and toxicological aspects of nanotechnology
• Prof Geoff Hunt gave a lecture on nanotechnology’s contribution to a low carbon economy at the Hazards Forum workshop on 29th November 2011 at the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), London. The other two speakers on the panel with him were John Armstrong, Head of Engineering Governance and Process Safety for E.ON UK, who spoke on power stations, and Peter Baker, Deputy Director and Head of Chemical Industries Division, at the Health & Safety Executive, who spoke on regulatory perspectives. The meeting of engineers and environmental scientists was chaired by Eddie Morland, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) and was summarised by Mike Chrimes Director, Engineering Policy & Innovation, Institution of Civil Engineers.
• The findings of a survey of nanotoxicologists on what they perceive to be the main safety issues surrounding nanotechnology has now been published in Nanotechnology Perceptions Vol 7, (2011) 82-98. Prof Hunt designed and coordinated the survey which came out of a ‘nano-safety’ conference in Prague, supported by the British Embassy. The title of the paper is “Building expert consensus on problems of uncertainty and complexity in nanomaterial safety”. This paper was also shortlisted as one of the final 5 for the Biological / technological risk category for the Lloyd’s of London Science of Risk Prize. The Awards ceremony took place at Lloyds in the City of London on Thursday 24th November 2011.

BIOETHICS

• The start of the academic year 2011-12 proved to be one of the busiest ever for the MA in Bioethics & Medical Law programme. With 20 students in the first year, there are four students from last year carrying over to their second year of taught studies with yet another cohort of students working on their dissertations. Programme Director for the MA, Dr Trevor Stammers commented, "With the opening of the Law School at St Mary’s in the autumn of next year it looks as if the programme will continue to expand as a new range of options may then be possible for both MA and undergraduate programmes".
• ‘Thinking Bioethics’ is a public lecture series organised by MA Bioethics & Medical Law alumnus Pauline Gately, and hosted in Weybridge, Surrey. The series runs on a Wednesday evening, once a month from September 2011 through to April 2012. Dr Trevor Stammers was the first speaker of the series, presenting an introduction to ethical theory to an audience of over 100 people.  CBET’s Visiting Professor of Bioethics, David A. Jones, has also been a guest speaker during the series.
• The ethics of organ donation was the focus of a talk Dr Trevor Stammers gave at the South East Region Transplant Training Day at St Peter’s, Chertsey on 30th November 2011.

2011 (continued)

• The 16.1 edition of CBET’s new academic journal, Human Reproduction & Genetic Ethics has recently been published. CBET recently acquired the international peer review journal from Dr Calum MacKellar (CBET advisory board member) and will be aiming to use it as an additional means through which to reclaim a sense of bioethics as a diverse and multi-disciplinary project. In providing a space to dialogue between different perspectives on biotechnology it offers the chance of finding new kinds of common ground as well as helping to continue to foster an intellectual community associated with CBET.
• ‘Polymer ethics’ was the subject of a poster presented by Dr Erden at a conference of NaPolyNet (FP7 project) in Pozzuoli, near Naples, on 2nd -4th March 2011. At the same event Prof. Hunt presented a paper on conceptual difficulties in the characterization of nanomaterials, borrowing from ideas in complexity theory.
• Dr Richard Lamerton, an important figure in the history of the hospice movement worldwide, visited CBET and generously donated his own library of books on death, dying and hospice care to CBET.  CBET acknowledges his kindness with gratitude.
• On 24th February 2011 Dr Stammers spoke at a Oxford Union debate where he participated as a speaker in opposition to the motion that "This House supports the unrestricted right to abortion". The opposition won the debate by a 3 figure majority.
• On 14-17th February 2011 Professor Hunt helped organise and participated in a conference of NanoImpactNet (FP7 project) in Lausanne, Switzerland. He was chair of a stakeholder dialogue session on the ethical issues of development of nanomedicine and chair of a discussion group on nano-vaccines. Dr Erden also delivered a paper on “Nanomedicine: Reflections from Healthcare Ethics”.
• CBET staff members are currently supervising three doctoral students. Ian Berle is researching the privacy implications of biometrics, Haihong He is working on perception of risk and Bernard Farrell-Roberts is studying views of brain death especially in relation to the demands of organ transplantation.
• Dr Stammers has been accepted as a member of the Accreditation Council and Awards Panel of the CHKS (www.chks.co.uk), the leading provider of healthcare intelligence and quality improvement services. The Panel ensures impartiality in awarding accreditation and ISO certification, informs standards development and ratifies decisions, oversees the accreditation process and advises on all issues relating to the quality agenda.
• From 29th to 30th November 2010, Professor Hunt spoke at a ‘nano-safety’ conference in Prague, supported by the British Embassy, and he designed and coordinated a survey of nanotoxicologists on what they perceive to be the main safety issues surrounding nanotechnology. Dr Erden, of CBET, assisted Prof. Hunt in collating the results. A report will be published for the EU nanotechnology community and the findings presented at an occupational health conference in washing DC this summer.
• Following his lecture at a large conference on chemical industries regulation in Lyon on 8th September 2010, Professor Hunt was invited to write for CHEManager, Europe’s leading publication for the chemical industry, on the controversial subject of labelling products to indicate that they contain nanoparticles. The article has appeared in the issue of 10th December 2010.
• Hunt has been chairing an ISO/CEN project group on the development of international guidance on the labelling of nano-products, involving stakeholders from many countries and sectors including industry, consumer bodies and NGOs. Some have seen this issue as echoing the controversy over the labelling of food containing genetically modified organisms (GMO). Despite having achieved consensus in the project, the draft Guidance failed to get approval in the international ballot, partly because of industry opposition in some regions of the world. In response, efforts are now being to continue the project either with a new draft or by containing its applicability to the EU region only. This project may be regarded as an international dimension of CBET’s knowledge transfer activity.
• On 25th October, Professor Hunt delivered a talk on 'Nanotechnology & Healthcare', at the School of Nursing, Salford University.
• On Saturday 23rd October, Dr Stammers delivered a lecture at The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London Philosophy of Medicine course on "The Euthyphro Dilemma".
• On Wednesday 14th October, Dr Trevor Stammers spoke on "Ethical issues in Organ Donation" at the South East Organ Donation Coordination Service Training Day, Redhill Hospital Surrey.  
• Professor Geoff Hunt spoke on 'Ethical Aspects of Nanotechnology' for the Joint Conference of Bishops' Bioethics Committee and the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in Oxford on 1st October.

2010

• Professor Geoff Hunt was invited to an informal meeting of the Policy Unit of the Royal Society to explore their forthcoming consultation on nanotechnology and/or synthetics biology.
• On 8th-9th September, Professor Geoff Hunt was a key speaker at a large conference on Chemical Industries Regulation in Lyon, addressing the topic of 'Labelling as a means of communicating knowledge of nanotechnology developments to the consumer'.
• The EU seminar on 'Polymer Nanomaterials for Food Packaging: Characterization Needs, Safety & Environmental Issues' was the title of a two-day seminar hosted by CBET and Professor Geoff Hunt on 1st- 2nd September 2010 jointly under COST Action FA0904 (Eco-sustainable Food Packaging based on Polymer Nanomaterials) and FP7 NaPolyNet (Setting up Clusters of Resear4ch-Intensive Clusters across the EU on Characterization of Polymer Nanostructures). Polymer scientists, chemical engineers, environmentalists and policy experts from 17 countries gathered to explore how nanotechnology may be at least part of the answer to how new plastics for food packaging could be created that reduce waste and damage.
• Dr Wendy Hiscox has recently co-written a paper on the ethics of assisted suicide in the Netherlands and Oregon and evidence for a 'slippery slope'. This was presented by Professor David Jones at a Royal Society of Medicine symposium on 30th June 2010.
• Pursuing the CBET's interests in the ethical, health and environmental aspects of nanotechnology Professor Geoff Hunt spoke on 'Environmental design of polymers' at a Co operation on Science and Technology meeting in Iasi, Romania on 28th June.
• In terms of CBET's Resource Healthcare Allocation Project, the final process of consultation is now underway. Professor David Jones did a presentation about the project at the Catholics in Healthcare conference in Liverpool at the end of June. The hope is to produce a final version of the booklet in September/October and a launch in early November. The recent NHS White Paper raises serious issues for the topics considered by the project and some material will have to be rewritten in the light of this. Ways in which the project's work can be continued in some way after the formal end of the present work are currently being explored.
• In March 2010, Dr Brenda Appleby will be visiting CBET as part of her sabbatical. Dr Appleby is a bioethicist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at St Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
• On 27th February Professor David Jones spoke on allocation and justice issues at a seminar organised by the Society of Apothecaries.
• Six new graduates received their MA in Bioethics at the winter awards ceremony on Saturday 6th February.
• Commencing in January 2010, Professor Rodney Taylor will be teaching on the Ethics and Medical Law course at Imperial College School of Medicine, London.

2009

• Visiting Professor Rodney Taylor recently met with MPs at the House of Commons to raise awareness of Myelo-dysplastic syndrome, and in discussions with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer.
• Dr Trevor Stammers’ review of Bioethics at the Movies edited by Sandra Shapshay was published in the Winter 2009 edition of the Catholic Medical Quarterly.
• On Wednesday 25th November 2009, Professor Geoff Hunt was an invited guest at a workshop on emerging technologies convened by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in London. Professor David Jones also spoke at the Liverpool Care Pathway National Conference on the subject of Hydration in Care of the Dying: The Ethical and Religious Considerations.
• ‘Morality, Divine Commands and Evolution’ was the theme of a talk presented by Professor David Jones at a seminar organised by the Society of Apothecaries on 14th November.
• That same afternoon, Dr Stammers appeared on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2 debating with the head of the TPU on the proposed removal of the right of parents to withdraw their children from school sex education.
• On Friday 6th November 2009, Dr Trevor Stammers gave a lecture at the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) breakfast at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Annual Conference in Glasgow on the topic of "Spirituality in the Surgery - A Disciplinary Matter?" at the SECC. This was on the topic of conscientious objection in medicine.
• Prof Geoff Hunt is leading an application to the Brocher Foundation (Switzerland) for funding of an international multidisciplinary seminar in Geneva in 2010 on ELSI of Nano-Vaccines.
• The ethics of child sex was the topic of a live debate broadcast on the 23rd September and which formed part of Radio 4's 'Iconoclasts' series. Dr Trevor Stammers was part of the panel which also included Peter Tatchell among others.
  
• Dr Trevor Stammers’ review of Ethics in professional life: virtues for health and social care by Sarah Banks and Ann Gallagher,was published in the September 2009 edition of Nursing Ethics.
• Nanotechnology measurement methods and equipment were demonstrated at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington during a visit on 20th August 2009. Prof Geoffrey Hunt accompanied Dr Nino Gaeta of the Italian filtration company GVS to discuss nanometrology (measurement on the scale of one-billionth of a metre) at the invitation of Prof Richard Leach and Dr Jonathan Moore of NPL Hunt and Gaeta are both members of a European FP7 project ‘NaPolyNet’.
  
• Prof David Jones has been invited to become a member of the national reference group for Liverpool Care Pathway – an evidence based framework for the delivery of appropriate care for dying patients and their relatives in a variety of care settings. He has also been invited to address the project’s national conference later on in 2009.
• Prof Geoff Hunt has recently been appointed as external examiner for the University of Cardiff.
• A presentation on ‘Christian perspectives on organ donation’, was given by Prof David Jones at the Organ Donation Campaign event held in Manchester on 8th July 2009.
• Depression - a way forward’ was the title of a conference convened by the Royal Society of Medicine and The St Paul’s Institute on 23rd June 2009.  Dr Trevor Stammers was one of a number of speakers invited to participate in the event.
• Also in June, Dr Wendy Hiscox presented a paper entitled 'Legal Aspects of Consent' at a day conference for physiotherapists working in sport held at St Mary's.
• On 22nd June 2009, Prof Jones presented a paper on ethical aspects of therapeutic substitution at Therapeutic Substitution Consensus Group, Sutton’s Hospital, London.
• In June Prof Geoff Hunt undertook a 14-day speaking trip to Japan during which he spoke on various topics related to nanotechnology and hospice care.
• With regard to the NapolyNet project, one of two European Commission funded projects of which CBET is a partner, Prof Geoff Hunt taught on research ethics at an event in May.
• Prof David Jones continues his regular work for the MOD research ethics committee and his role on a working party of the GMC on end of life care. He has given lectures at two conferences on end of life care in Birmingham and in Oxford.
  
• On 14 March 2009 CBET hosted a conference entitled Health and Social Responsibility: Current Dilemmas and Future Hopes. This was coordinated by Dr Trevor Stammers with lectures by Prof Geoff Hunt and other guest speakers. On the same day, Prof David Jones gave a presentation entitled ‘Human dignity and the indignity of suffering’ at the conference ‘Suffering, Death and Dignity’ held at the Las Casas Institute, Blackfriars Hall, Oxford.
• Prof David Jones was invited as a panel member for a discussion on induced pluripotent stem cells convened by the East of England Stem Cell Network on the 10th March 2009.
• The previous week Prof Geoff Hunt led a Brussels meeting of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) on the ethical concerns of labelling products containing nanoparticles.
• The full consortium conference for the European Framework Programme 'NanoImpactNet', took place in Lausanne, Switzerland in March 2009. Prof Geoff Hunt of CBET presented a philosophical paper on 'Nanotoxicology and Complexity Theory' as well as chairing a session and participating in two workshops on stakeholder aspects of nanotechnology.
• Prof David Jones was an invited participant at a colloquium entitled ‘Focus on The Embryo’ in Barcelona in January under the auspices of the Social Trends Institute.
  
• In March 2009 Prof David Jones gave a lecture on allocation to the Diploma in Philosophy and Medicine for the Society of Apothecaries. He has subsequently been invited to act as external examiner to this Diploma.
• In February 2009 Prof Geoff Hunt was invited to submit evidence to The House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee's inquiry into the use of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials in the food sector, chaired by Lord Krebs.
  
• Dr Trevor Stammers and Prof David Jones’ article on Why Emergency Contraception remains controversial was published in Southern Medical
  Journal 2009;102 (1):5-7.
• Prof David Jones was also invited to meet members of the Department of Health for consultation on the proposed regulation for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. He has given a written submission for the consultation.
• In January 2009 Prof David Jones gave a lecturer at the annual conference of the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics on the subject of animal-human hybrid embryos.