Transatlantic Dialogue on Emerging Technologies

Risk, Policy and Ethics.

Initial invitational consultation, London January 22, with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

Roundtable with experts in risk management, technology policy, NGOs from the US and Europe, and representation from the OECD Global Science Forum, the Council of Europe, and the European Commission.

Read the keynote by D.K. Matai >
Read the keynote by Francoise Roure >

Transatlantic Dialogue on Emerging Technologies:

Forum on technology, policy and human values

Initial meeting: London, UK, January 22, 2008:
Emerging Technologies: Risk, Policy and Ethics

co-sponsors:
The University of Ulster
Illinois Institute of Technology
with funding from the Wellcome Trust

This initial consultation is focused on aspects of risk and the governance of emerging technologies, with presentations from a series of distinguished participants as the basis of roundtable discussion. This initial meeting is private and will operate along Chatham House/Gordon Conference lines to encourage candid discussion. Participants include Francoise Roure (National Advisory Board on Information Technologies, Paris; vice-chair of the OECD nanotechnology working group); Bert Gordijn (Department of Ethics, Philosophy and the History of Medicine at the University of Nijmegen); Kevin Warwick (Professor of Cybernetics, University of Reading); Stefan Michalowski (OECD Global Science Forum); Maurizio Salvi (ethics adviser to the President of the European Commission); D.K. Matai (risk management expert, Chairman of mi2g and The Philanthropia); Sigrid Frye-Revere (Cato Institute, Washington, DC); Jack Stilgoe (Demos, London); Valerie McKelvie-Martin (The University of Ulster); Katrina Sifferd (Elmhurst College and C-PET). The consultation will be moderated by Nigel M. de S. Cameron (Illinois Institute of Technology and C-PET).

The Transatlantic Dialogue
Dialogue with meetings alternating between the Europe and US/Canada, with invited participants from science and technology, NGOs, media, governments, the multilaterals, and the business community. Focus on policy developments and priorities.

Objectives:

• Informing the development of sound public policy.
• Exploring corporate/NGO/government common ground
• Enabling better public understanding of ETs
• Risk reduction through:
• information sharing
• public dialogue
• development of clearing-house for ELSI (ethical, legal and societal implications)

Partnerships:

• Universities
• Corporate and foundation sponsors
• Core members and ad hoc invited participants

Activities:

• Roundtable conferences, alternating between the U.S./Canada and Europe, focused on mapping the agenda in particular technology areas; reviewing the perspectives of various actors; seeking areas of agreement and disagreement, and their respective rationales; addressing potential commonalities.
• Publication of results, using the web and other media, and focus on engagement with science writers and journalists with a view to public education and engagement in the conversation.