International conference to discuss genetics, determinism and human freedom

Brussels, 11 Apr 2003

An international conference on genetics, determinism and human freedom will take place on 14 and 15 November in Heidelberg, Germany.

The main aim of the event is to engage scientists, social scientists, philosophers, science communicators, policy makers, consumer associations and members of the public in a debate on the role of genetic information in disease and the information society.

In particular, four sessions are planned, focusing on:
- technological revolutions in genetic information gathering and application;
-genes and disease; the links and their consequences for human freedom;
-use and abuse of genetic information in justice, security and the information society;
-fast forward: human trait modulation, 'Genomes'R'us', designer babies and genetic identity cards.

This is the fourth joint conference on science and society organised by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL).

For further information on the conference, please visit:
http://www.embo.org/projects/scisoc/scis oc2003.html

CORDIS RTD-NEWS / © European Communities