Professor Alain Pompidou – ‘Ethics of Converging Technologies’
19 June 2009

Humanities and Social Science Research Day 2009 took place on Thursday June 11 2009. The Theme of this year's research Day was - "The Two Cultures".

The Keynote address was given by the eminent Prof. Dr. Alain Pompidou on "The Ethics of Converging Technologies". Prof Pompidou is President of both COMEST (UNESCO) and the National Academy of technologies of France, an honorary member of European Parliament and Former President of the European Patent Office.  During his presentation Prof. Pompidou urged scientists to consider the ethical aspects of their research and called for clearer guidelines for researchers in new areas of scientific research, particularly those with a direct impact on the future of mankind. 

‘The Two Cultures’ was chosen as the theme for this year’s research day.  It is the title of the influential 1959 Rede Lecture by British scientist and novelist C. P. Snow. Its thesis was that the breakdown of communication between the "two cultures" of modern society, the sciences and the humanities, was a major hindrance to solving the world's problems. Today, fifty years after Snow’s seminal lecture, we examined the existing relationship between these “two cultures”.

The event was open to the entire DCU community and was attended by researchers from each of our faculties,colleagues from our linked colleges and representatives from IRCSET, the IUA and the French Embassy.

As well as an impressive poster session illustrating the work of the Humanities and Social Science researchers there was a lively round table discussion entitled "The Two Cultures - Research Funding in a Time of Limited Resources". Prof. Michael Cronin (SALIS), Prof. Ian Marison (School of Biotechnology), Dr. Christine Loscher (School of Biotechnology) and Prof. Helena Sheehan (School of Communications) lead the discussions chaired by Dr. Declan Raftery and supported by a cross disciplinary audience.

During the research day Dr. Declan Raftery, Director of the Office of the VP for Research, remarked that the research day was “a very positive step to enhance the lines of communication between the two cultures in DCU with a view to developing new collaborative opportunities”.