3rd annual Philomathia Symposium

'Body politics: the dilemmas of regulating new technologies'

Policy Roundtable and Public Lecture by Professor Sheila Jasanoff (Harvard)

The Philomathia Social Sciences Research Programme is committed to bringing together sciences and the social sciences in order to inform policy debate. This year we turn to ‘Body Politics’.

Society is facing major challenges as advances in bio-medical technologies pose fundamental philosophical, ethical, legal and political questions. Who directs investment in the search for new technologies, and who has ownership and control of them? How are they regulated, and how are decisions about their use formulated? This Symposium brings together social scientists with scientists in order to engage with major issues of policy. Should the law allow patenting of DNA or not? What are the implications of intervention to rectify ‘errors’ in DNA? What are the implications of a shift to individualised treatment based on analysis of the patient’s DNA? These questions intersect with intervention in reproduction, both to assist infertile couples to have children, and to deal with genetic disease. What are the limits of intervention, and who should make the decisions? And how should the shortage of organs for transplant be overcome? Should there be a presumption that organs are donated unless an individual opts out? How should surgeons balance the risk of using suboptimal organs against the risk of death?

The Symposium will address three themes – the law of DNA patents, family planning, and sub-optimal organ transplants. The University of Cambridge has been at the forefront of development in bio-medical science in all of these areas, and these sessions aim to enter into dialogue with social scientists and to reflect on the implications for policy.

Policy roundtable - 15:45-17:00

Panel chair: Dr Rob Doubleday (Executive Director, Centre for Science and Policy, Cambridge)

Contributor: Sir Roy Calne (Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Cambridge)

Contributor: Sally Cheshire (Chair, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority)

Contributor: George Freeman MP (Chair, Prime Minister's Policy Board)

Contributor: Professor Michael Parker (Director, Ethox Centre at Oxford University)

Tea - 17:00-17:30

Keynote Lecture: 'Body politics' - 17:30 - 19:00

Professor Sheila Jasanoff

Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies

Harvard Kennedy School of Government

A pioneer in her field, Sheila Jasanoff has authored more than 100 articles and chapters and is author or editor of a dozen books, including Controlling Chemicals, The Fifth Branch, Science at the Bar, and Designs on Nature. Her work explores the role of science and technology in the law, politics, and policy of modern democracies, with particular attention to the nature of public reason. She was founding chair of the STS Department at Cornell University and has held numerous distinguished visiting appointments in the US, Europe, and Japan. Jasanoff served on the Board of Directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and as President of the Society for Social Studies of Science. Her grants and awards include a 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship and an Ehrenkreuz from the Government of Austria. She holds AB, JD, and PhD degrees from Harvard, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Twente.

Drinks reception - 19:00

*The roundtable, lecture and reception are free and open to all. Drop in for one or both of the sessions.