Advanced Course on Bioethics and Public Perceptions of Biotechnology

Sunday 28 March, 2004

Evening arrival of the participants
19.00 Opening Lecture
19.45 Welcome buffet

Monday 29 March, 2004

09.00-09.30 General introduction
Drs. Patricia Osseweijer, The Netherlands
• welcome
• introduction of course aims, general rules applying
• chairman of the day schedule
• watchdog of the day schedule
• rules for interruptions, code of the programme
• participants’ personal objectives

09.30-10.30 10 min Presentations by participants
International participants present an overview of their work and or interests. Or the results of a project they undertook related to the course programme.
Each participant also presents one statement, which could be a prioritised problem they either foresee or encounter in a societal context, and one prime personal objective for this course. Groups of two students (preferably 1 Phd and 1MSc) prepare a case study (2 ECTS) in which they explore the possible future society issues of their present work or a topic of interest on a life science subject. Both students present part of the study.
At the end of the day a listing of problems, statements and objectives will be discussed and agreed, which will be used as reference during later evaluations of the course.
10.30-11.00 Coffee
11.00-13.00 10 min presentations by participants
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-16.00 10 min presentations by participants
16.00-16.30 Tea
16.30-18.00 What are ethics/morals? Introduction
Drs. Henriette Bout, VU A’dam, The Netherlands

• why is ethics important?
• why are public perceptions important?
• the concept of truth
• facts and values
• ad-hoc Committees and knowledge institutes
• process issues and product issues
• misrepresentation, plagiarism, interference, non-disclosure, conflict of interest
• data selection
19.00 Dinner

Tuesday 30 March, 2004

THEME: Issues in relation to ethics and biotechnology

09.00-10.30 Ethical systems
Prof. Tjard de Cock Buning, A’dam, The Netherlands
10.30-11.00 Coffee
11.00- 12.30 Case study on Rational Decision Making in Ethics
Prof. Deryck Beyleveld, UK
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-15.00 Respecting cultural values, The New Zealand case
Prof. Tjard de Cock Buning, A’dam, The Netherlands
15.00-15.30 Coffee
15.30-17.30 Ethical issues in biotechnology, an evolutionary approach
Prof. Raymond Spier, UK
19.00 Dinner
20.30-22.00 The Moral Status of the Human Embryo, Foetus and stem cells
Case study and consensus exercise on Human Cloning
Prof. Deryck Beyleveld, UK

Wednesday 31 March, 2004

THEME: Ethics and Society

09.00-10.15 Business and Ethics
Ms. Lise Kingo, Novo Nordisk, Denmark
10.15-10.30 Coffee
10.30-11.45 Ethics and Communication
Prof. David McConnell, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
11.45-13.01 Participative strategies for implementing biotechnology innovations in developing countries
Prof. Joske Bunders, A’dam, The Netherlands
13.00-13.45 Lunch
13.45-15.00 Biodiversity as context of food production
Prof. Klaus Ammann, Botanical Garden Bern, Switserland

Rest of the afternoon off
Prepare for next day
Prepare patenting

19.00 Dinner
20.30-22.00 Using genetic information to make personal health decisions
Mr. Alistair Kent,UK, invited

Thursday 1 April, 2004

THEME: Biotechnologists and regulatory issues

09.00-10.30 Law in biotechnology
law and biotechnology, why?
EC directives, GMOs, guidelines/regulations
Implementation
Why institute laws to control biotechnology at all?
What makes the products of modern biotechnology more susceptible to legal control compared to products of traditional technology
What should be controlled if anything - microbes, plants, animal, humans
Define the legal instruments, including the European Directives (EC90/219, EC2001/18, Medical devices, patents)
Prof. Julian Kinderlerer, UK
10.30-11.00 Coffee
11.00-11.45 Regulatory Committees, The practice of risk assessment and the precautionary principle
Prof. Julian Kinderlerer
11.45-12.30 Integrated ethical assessment frame for GMO licensing
Prof. Tjard de Cock Buning
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-15.00 Field trial assessment, role play exercise
Prof. Julian Kinderlerer and Prof. Tjard de Cock Buning
15.00-15.30 Tea
15.30-17.30 Evaluation, Role play and discussion
Prof. Julian Kinderlerer and Prof. Tjard de Cock Buning
19.00 Dinner
20.30-22.30 Religion and Biotechnology
Dr. Donald Bruce, UK, invited

Friday 2 April, 2004

THEME: Risk assessment and perception
• law and risk assessment, risk perception, application of the precautionary principle in risk assessment
• evaluation of first week
09.00-10.30 Risk Assessment - what is it, and how is it done
The assessment of risk is the foundation for the safe use of the technology
Prof. Julian Kinderlerer, UK
10.30- 11.00 Coffee
11.00 - 12.30 Risk perception
Theory of risk compensation; risk attitudes
Dr. John Adams, UK, invited
12.30-13.30 Lunch

THEME: Public Perceptions of biotechnology: how are attitudes linked to behaviour?
• who are the stakeholders?
• survey results
• what is the value of information?
• what are the issues?
• how do the media show this?
• can we spot any trends?
• what are the economical consequences?
13.30-15.00 Introduction, Surveys, Eurobarometer, stakeholders and issues in Europe
Dr. George Gaskell, UK, invited
15.00-15.15 Tea
15.15-16.45 EFB Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology, Past and Future
Prof. Richard Braun, Switzerland
16.45-17.15 Introduction group work on integral communication
Drs. Patricia Osseweijer, The Netherlands
17.17-18.00 With drinks: Mid-term evaluation, feed back on participants involvement, discussion on expectations and statements of day one
19.00 Dinner

Saturday 3 April, 2004
5th Oxford Anniversary
Current situations & Global relations

Chairman: Prof. Richard Braun
Introduction on discussions by: Prof. Julian Kinderlerer, Prof. Willy de Greef & Dr. Bernard Dixon
09.00-10.00 Registration
10.00-12.00 European Union after lifting the moratorium on GM Food
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-15.00 Global relations & Ethical consequences
15.00-17.00 Media relations
19.00 Formal Anniversary Diner

Sunday 4 April, 2004

THEME: How do the media work?
• newspapers, journals, radio and TV
• who are the gatekeepers?
• timing of information and press releases
• debates, lectures and interview techniques
• training in written and oral communication
09.00-10.30 Press conference simulation
Dr. Bernard Dixon and Dr Peter Evans, UK
10.30-11.00 Coffee
11.00-11.45 How do the media work?
Dr. Bernard Dixon and Dr Peter Evans, UK
11.45-12.30 Writing about science for non-scientists
Dr. Bernard Dixon and Dr Peter Evans, UK
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-15.00 Reviewing participants’ prepared pieces
Dr. Bernard Dixon and Dr Peter Evans, UK
15.00-15.30 Tea
15.30-17.30 Writing Exercises
19.00 Dinner

Monday 5 April, 2004

09.00-10.30 Oral communication, radio and TV
Dr. Bernard Dixon and Dr Peter Evans, UK
10.30-11.00 Coffee
11.00-12.30 Exercises: Radio interviews, presentations
Dr. Bernard Dixon and Dr Peter Evans, UK
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-15.00 Exercises continued: Talks
15.00-15.30 Tea
15.30-17.45 Feed-back
19.00 Dinner
20.30-21.30 The role of scientists in communication – campaign planning
First presentations, group work
Drs. Patricia Osseweijer

Tuesday 6 April, 2004

THEME: Science communication
• evaluation of various communication approaches and their effectiveness
• case studies on good and bad examples
• what can companies learn from this?
• what is the role of scientists?
09.00-09.45 Communication strategy: Institute or University
Prof. Heinz Saedler, Germany, invited
09.45-10.30 Communication strategy: Environmental organisations
Mr. Douglas Parr, UK, Greenpeace, invited
10.30-11.00 Coffee
11.00-11.45 Communication strategy: Retailers
Dr. S.A. Hertzberger, Albert Heijn, The Netherlands, invited
11.45-12.30 Discussion
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-17.30 Communication Strategic Plan: group work - Nasty situations given to groups
what is the importance of networking?
pro-active initiatives and emergency handling
internal and external communication
developing a strategic plan
Drs. Patricia Osseweijer
19.00 Formal course dinner

Wednesday 7 April, 2002

THEME: Company and Research Institute strategies
• examples of strategies
• handling of nasty situations
• panel review
• course evaluation
09.00-09:45 Communication strategy: Agrobiotech companies, How to set up GM and non-GM chain of production
Dr. Sofia Ben Tahar, France, Invited
09:45-10:45 Communication strategy: The United States approach
Dr. Theresa Kennedy, USA
10.45-11.00 Coffee
11.00-12.30 Presentations to panel
12.30-13.30 Lunch
13:30-14.30 Presentations to panel
14.30-14.45 Panel review
14.45-15.30 Course evaluation and close
14:30 Drinks and departure

Dr. Sofia Ben Tahar, Limagrain, F (invited)
Prof. Deryck Beyleveld, University of Sheffield, UK
Drs. Henriette Bout, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL
Prof. Richard Braun, Biolink, CH
Dr. Donald Bruce, Church of Scotland, UK (invited)
Prof. Joske Bunders, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL
Prof. Tjard de Cock Buning, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL
Dr. Bernard Dixon, American Society for Microbiology, UK
Dr. Peter Evans, BBC Science Unit, UK
Dr. George Gaskell, London School of Economics, UK
Prof. Willy de Greef, International Biotech Regulatory Services, B
Theresa Kennedy, Hill and Knowlton, CA
Mr. Alistair Kent, Genetic Interest Group London, UK (invited)
Prof. Julian Kinderlerer, University of Sheffield, UK
Ms. Lise Kingo, Novo Nordisk, DK
Prof. David McConnell, Trinity College Dublin, IRL
Drs. Patricia Osseweijer, Kluyver Centre for Genomics in Industrial Fermentation, NL
Mr. Douglas Parr, Greenpeace, UK
Prof. Heinz Saedler, Max-Planck-Instituut, D
Prof. Raymond Spier, University of Surrey, UK