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Conference programme
Day 1 – Monday 6 December 2004
09.00 Registration
09.30 Plenary opening by Wim van Velzen, Chairman of the Board of the Rathenau Institute, and Egbert Schroten, Chairman of the Conference Committee
09.45 Keynote speech by Dietmar Mieth, University of Tübingen, Germany: The role and backgrounds of religious, ethical, legal and social issues in science. Reaction by Ene Ergma, President of the Estonian Parliament. Chair: Ulf Görman, Lund University, Sweden
Ethical, legal and social issues – known as ELSI – are more and more a part of the scientific process, not only so in social sciences but also in biology, chemistry and physics. However, it is a lot less common to add ‘Religion’ to the acronym. Does this mean there should not be any attention for religious aspects of science and technology? The first keynote speech will give an overview of the backgrounds of (R)ELSIfication. To what developments does this term refer, how can they be explained and what can be expected for the future?
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Download the ful text by Dietmar Mieth
10.45 Break
11.15 Keynote speech on nanotechnology and converging technologies, by Don Eigler, IBM Almaden Research Center, California USA; reaction by Alfred Nordmann, Technical University Darmstadt, Germany. Chair: Cees Dekker, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Although there is no shared definition of nanotechnology, all over the world discussions have started on this new branch of science. In nanotechnology different technologies converge: biotechnology, information technology, cognitive sciences. The possibilities are numerous, but so may be the risks. This second keynote speech will give information on the technical and scientific aspects, as well as on the religious, ethical, legal and social issues that can or should be related to (applications of) nanotechnology.
12.15 Lunch
13.30 Speech by Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, the Netherlands
14.15 Workshops
Workshop 1 – Bildung or image building: scientific education for new generations. Chair: Arend Soeteman, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The divergence of science has driven the ancient ideal of Bildung from the stage. What does this mean for the scientific education of new generations. Does the so-called Bologna Model present new possibilities?
Workshop 2 – Images of the mind. Chair: Gerrit Glas, Leiden University, The Netherlands
The higher the stakes, the more difficult it becomes to live with technological developments. This clearly is the case with developments in neuroscience, where technologies arise that can change personalities or the ‘selfs’ of human beings. This raises questions that go to the core of this conference. Moreover, an important element in neuroscience is ‘imaging’. What images of people and society are created by these developments?
Workshop 3 – Intelligent Design and the discussion about science and religion in the 21st century. Chair: Wil Derkse, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Ever since Galileo Galilei science and religion have seemed to be waging war on each other, due to the conflicts between religious claims and scientific findings. Nowadays however, there are several theories for combining religious views and scientific results. In this workshop attention will be paid to the relation of world religions to science.
Workshop 4 – Promises of science. Chair: Alice ter Meulen, Groningen University, The Netherlands
Scientists sometimes promise results or solutions that are not all that realistic. Are they not in fact promising too much and in doing so giving cause for mistrust? This workshop will analyse whether or not mistrust and criticism towards science are justified.
15.45 Break
16.00 Facing science. Chair Nanne van de Poll, formerly Rathenau Institute, The Netherlands
Surprising views on science and society from people around and outside the scientific world.
17.30 Reception at Amsterdam City Hall
Welcome by Duco Stadig, alderman.
19.30 Conference dinner in the Council Chamber of Hotel The Grand
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Day 2 – Tuesday 7 December 2004
09.00 Welcome
09.15 Plenary opening
09.20 Keynote speech on new interactions between science and society, by Arie Rip, Twente University, The Netherlands; reaction by Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Director of the Fondación Cultura de Paz, Spain. Chair: Barbara Rhode, Directorate General for Research, European Union
How have science and technology developed in the past and what are possible future developments? What is – or what should be – society’s role in this process? Starting from a historical point of view in the Renaissance, Arie Rip will illuminate the future that science and humanities share with society. In his lecture he will pay attention to the function of images of or produced by science.
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10.30 Pandemonia Science Theatre
11.00 Workshops
Workshop 5 – Playing God. Chair: Frans Brom, Utrecht University/Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Recent developments in biology and genetics trigger the question whether scientists are playing God. The question of course is hardly new. But in the 21st century the human mind and body seem more 'makable' than in any time before. In a panel discussion theologians from different traditions and scientists will debate the possibilities and moral boundaries for actually recreating Creation.
Workshop 6 – Images of science: past and future. Chair: Inez de Beaufort, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Images play an important part in science, if only because it often is the only way to make scientific results clear. But images play a role in a different way as well. From Leonardo da Vinci to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and motion pictures like The Matrix, scientists and scientific progress have inspired artists and writers. In fact, there are scientific images and images of science.
Workshop 7 – Mediating between science and society. Chair:Johannes Schroots, ALLEA, The Netherlands
The world of science as a fountain of knowledge is no longer directly accessible to society. The abstract flow of information from science needs a 'translator' to reach the general public. Conversely, it can be difficult at times to make scientists aware of Religious, Ethical, Legal and Social Issues. There obviously is a need for two-way mediation between science and society. Media, consensus conferences, science shops and public debate are only some examples of the ways in which Western European countries handle the relations between science and society. They can perhaps serve as models for the new European Union member states.
Workshop 8 – Using science: ELSI and the 'E' for 'Economy'. Chair: Jan Staman, Rathenau Institute, The Netherlands
There was a time when scientists - like mayors, medical doctors and priests - were trusted almost by definition. However, times have changed. Misuse of science for arms making, fear of unexpected results, and the growing economic importance of science all seem to be good reasons for the general public to mistrust scientists. Is this mistrust justified? And how can scientists cope with this development?
The Royal Society – the United Kingdom’s national academy of science – calls on industrial and government sponsors to filter out research proposals if "there is a tangible cause for concern in terms of harmful applications". However the Royal Society warns against a vetting process to filter out basic research that may have potential but as yet unidentified dual uses, both beneficial and harmful, because this would be "difficult and impose a burdensome layer of bureaucracy on the research enterprise". This initiative will be the starting point of a discussion on the responsibility of scientists.
13.00 Lunch
14.15 Academic dispute between scientists from different fields. Chair: Pieter Drenth, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The humanities, social sciences and natural sciences all claim to work for and contribute to the benefit of society. What are the justifications of their claims? ‘Hard’ natural scientists and ‘soft’ social scientists and representatives of the humanities will meet each other in the arena of academic dispute and will give insight in recent and future developments in the relationship between science, technology and society.
15.15 Break
15.45 The European Union perspective, by Rainer Gerold, Directorate Science and Society of the European Commission
A European Union representative will comment and formulate some conclusions on science and society from a policy perspective.
16.10 Closing speech by Abram de Swaan, distinguished university professor, University of Amsterdam
Rather than being a mere summary of conference results this closing speech will be an inspiring, provocative yet thorough mission statement.
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16.45 Formal closure
17.00 Farewell drink Back to top
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