What are the normative challenges raised by research within the life sciences today? What are the responsibilities of researchers within the life sciences and the human and social sciences in regard to these challenges? Can most ethical and normative challenges be delegated to the researchers themselves? Or can such responsibilities be conferred to regulatory agencies and authorities? When handling such responsibilities, what are the available means by which to respond? Is it by criticizing, discussing and articulating dilemmas and controversial issues? Or is it rather by suggesting other lines of research and/or working towards societal and technical alternatives?
Or, in short: What does responsible research within the Life Sciences mean?
Program:
Introductory talk by Hannah Landecker
Shorter introductions by Kjetill Jakobsen and Tiago Moreira
Panel debate and questions from the audience
Anne Kveim Lie and Kristin Asdal will chair the discussion
Hannah Landecker is Director at Institute for Society and Genetics at UCLA. Landecker uses the tools of history and social science to study contemporary developments in the life sciences, and their historical taproots in the twentieth century. She has taught and researched in the fields of history of science, anthropology and sociology. At UCLA she is cross-appointed between the Institute for Society and Genetics, and the Sociology Department.
Tiago Moreira is MSc. and PhD in Science and Technology Studies and is currently Professor of Sociology at Durham University (UK). He is currently finalizing a 3 year ethnographic study of cell biology of ageing, and about to start a project on responsible innovation in biohybrid materials. Recent publications include Science, Technology and the Ageing Society (Routledge, 2017).
Kjetill Jakobsen is professor and chair of the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES). Professor Jakobsen's research has dealt with quite diverse aspects of evolutionary genetics and genomics. A main theme in his work relates to the genetic forces (both ongoing and historical) acting upon populations, and how the genetics relates to ecological and evolutionary processes.