CURRENT RESEARCH
THEME ARCHIVES
Can we Find a Shared Vision for Biotechnology?
Published: Apr 14, 2010
Vision is something which motivates us, rooted in certain values we hold. Scientists, companies, governments and regulators have positive differing visions about biotechnology - like discovery, prosperity, sustainability, competitivity. Such visions may not however be shared by the public, especially concerning food, agriculture and the environment. The vision of progress through technology has been increasingly challenged in Europe. A more sceptical attitude has emerged, which may construct innovation in terms of risk as much as benefit. To be accepted by society, biotechnology has now to fulfill certain conditions, an invisible social contract. For example, if an application is unfamiliar, it must be in control of people who are trusted and whose motivations are shared; it must not challenge fundamental values, or present high consequence risks unless there is a comparable benefit to the end user…
The Millennium, Seattle and the End of Technology
Published: Apr 14, 2010
Since humans began counting, certain numbers have had special significance. There’s a whole literature on the meanings people have attached to various numbers in the Bible - like 3 for the Trinity, 12 apostles and 7 all sorts of things. In our current system of numerals, which we call Arabic, it’s repeats of tens that we especially choose to commemorate. Now we’ve reached the two tens of tens of tens of years ... But what from? Not the Big Bang, nor beginning of the human race, nor what we call western civilisation; we don’t know when any those happened. It’s dated from a person. But why that person?