The good, the bad and the ethic

What happens when science meets society and how do mutual (mis)understanding emerge? To answer these questions, it’s important to examine how the media discuss science and how they shape perception and understanding of scientific issues. This process is often called ‘framing’ by social and linguistic scientists. I’ll talk about how genetics, genomics and synthetic biology are being framed by scientists and the media, and what ethical implications such framing may have.

My research develops new non-animal technologies using 3D cell biology - mini-brains, lab-on-a-chip and artificial organoids may sound like science-fiction, but they are being used today! Growing cells in these new ways make better models for basic biology, understanding disease and more accurately predicting the safety of new drugs. Come along and join the discussion on the latest alternative models and how they aim to reduce the use of lab animals.

How should we decide what is right and wrong? What makes anyone a moral “expert”? Answering these questions involves finding out whether morality is closer to science or politics.  Is finding the correct moral answer more like testing a scientific theory, or finding a political solution to a practical problem? I’ll consider how evidence from evolution and linguistics might be used to answer these questions, and how such evidence might affect the way we participate in ethical debates.