2009 News
- News Archive
CBET to Host First Conference
The Centre for Bioethics and Emerging Technologies (CBET) at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham is hosting a day conference on health and social responsibility on Saturday March 14th 2009
The aim of the day is to consider different ethical approaches to new technologies such as nanotechnology and human enhancement techniques alongside ongoing ethical problems such as the use of animals in medical research and the tensions between rights and responsibilities in healthcare provision.
Geoff Hunt, of St Mary’s University College and CBET Professorial Research Fellow, will discuss the ethics of nanotechnologies. Pete Moore, Fellow in Ethics at Trinity College, Bristol will lecture on the future of human enhancement.
After lunch, Ann Gallagher, Reader in Nursing Ethics and Director of the International Centre for Nursing Ethics at the University of Surrey will address human rights and human virtues in healthcare provision and Trevor Stammers, Lecturer in Healthcare Ethics at St Mary’s University College will discuss the ethics of animal use in healthcare.
Dr Stammers, the conference convenor, said, “Advances in nanotechnologies and human enhancement are increasing at such a speed that ethical reflection is in danger of being left behind. Should there be, for example, a mandatory labelling system for sun creams containing nanoparticles?
"On the other hand, longstanding ethical dilemmas such as the competing claims of animal rights, human rights and responsibilities still seem to be no nearer resolution on a global scale. This conference will examine such issues with a line up both guest speakers and CBET staff”.
