Science in Society: Recent Episodes
Cambridge University
Produced by student group 'The Triple Helix', this series explores the interdisciplinary issues surrounding science and its impact on society.
Four speakers present their perspectives on nanotechnology, exploring the current technology and the bioethical issues surrounding future applications and developments.
Four speakers present their views on how we can feed the growing global population and whether available options will harm the planet. This explores the role of science in solving the world food crisis.
Four speakers present their experience and ideas about how the open source philosophy can be applied to different areas of life.
Three speakers present their points of view on how we behave on the web and what that means for society.
Four speakers present their views on whether neuroscience can and should be used as evidence in the courtroom. When is it applicable and how much can it tell us about who we are and why we act they way we do?
Four speakers talk about their views on extreme life extension research. From the science to the sociology, they ask whether we should try to live forever
Are you responsible enough for free healthcare? In 2005, the government health agency NICE published a report which said doctors could refuse treatment to patients if they believed that their lifestyle made the operation unlikely to be successful or cost-effective. Today, many healthcare trusts now restrict non-emergency operations on the basis of smoking, obesity or both, and at the start of this year, Gordon Brown warned of an NHS constitution, setting out for the first time the rights and responsibilities associated with entitlement to NHS care. Is this unethical or pragmatic? Is this a good move or discrimination?
In our second event of the term, join our expert speaker panel to discuss issues surrounding energy security, the current political and economic climate, and what the future holds for this issue. Are we heading for global catastrophe or is it all under control? What about countries that need to develop? With key players and priorites constantly shifting, can science and technology secure our energy supply while permitting sustainable development for the third world? More importantly, can we simultaneously save the planet from climate change catastrophe? Is there even a crisis or is it all a lot of hot air? Answering these questions requires consideration of complex economic and political factors alongside the technological possibilities. Join prominent figures from industry and academia to get the low down on all aspects of this important and topical issue. Chaired by Professor David MacKay (Department of Physics), our panel includes Jonathan Davis Director, Energy, Infrastructure and Utilities business group, Deloitte and Touche LLP Dr Pierre Noel Research Associate, Cambridge Electricity Policy Research Group and Acting Director, Electricity Policy Research Forum Professor Andrew Woods Head of the BP Institute for Multiphase Flow and BP Professor