Negotiating New Sciences in Society: DCU symposium

Celsius, the DCU interdisciplinary research group on science in society, will host a symposium, /Negotiating New Sciences in Society/, on 22-23 January 2009 at Dublin City University.

This symposium features several invited international speakers as well as DCU researchers working in the field. It will explore social, scientific, ethical and cultural aspects of new and emerging (also re-emerging) sciences and technologies, such as nuclear energy, nanosciences, biotechnology, genetics and stem cell research.

Among the speakers at this symposium will be:

• Bert Gordijn (Institute of Ethics, DCU), who edits a new journal,Ethics, Law and Technology, and has written extensively on bioethics and nanoethics
• Suzanne de Cheveigné (CNRS, France), who has participated in several Europe-wide surveys of public attitudes to biotechnology and written widely on science in the media
• Alan Irwin (Copenhagen Business School), who has been a leading international figure in science and technology studies (STS) for over a decade and has focused more recently on risk communication
• Dietram Scheufele (University of Wisconsin, USA), whose research focuses on the intersection of media, politics and science, with particular reference to nanotechnology in society and attitudes to stem cell research
• Mark Brake (University of Glamorgan, Wales), who established the Masters in Communicating Science and BSc in Science and Science Fiction, runs astronomy outreach programmes, and writes about the relationships between science and science fiction

Fiona Coyle (recently of the Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (CESAgen), Cardiff University), whose research focuses on public discourses about stem cell research and biotechnology Staff and postgraduate students at DCU and linked colleges are welcome. Please email padraig.murphy@dcu.ie if you wish to attend.

There is a symposium fee of €50 (students, €30) to cover catering, travel and accommodation expenses. This can be paid on the day. Celsius acknowledges financial support from OVPR and the Foresight Unit.

For those who wish to attend a morning or afternoon session only, a fee of €10 (students, €5) applies. The venue is Seminar Room S206, Research & Engineering Building.