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Posted Thu, 10 Jan 2002 15:19:59
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From: Marike Van Harskamp <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: BIO WEAPONS: FIVE DECADES OF SILENCE - SEMINAR ANNOUNCEMENT
*Apologies for any cross-postings*
Seminar Announcement - please forward to anyone you think might be interested
BIO WEAPONS: FIVE DECADES OF SILENCE?
FRIDAY 18 JANUARY 2002
BRUNEL UNIVERSITY, UXBRIDGE
SPEAKERS: Dr Brian Balmer (UCL), Rob Evans (The Guardian), Dr Melissa
Parker (Brunel University), Professor Ian Robinson (Brunel University),
Professor Julian Perry Robinson (Sussex University), Dr Ian Welsh (Cardiff
University), Professor Steven Yearley (University of York)
The aim of this, the fourth seminar in this ESRC-funded series on 'The
Social Dynamics of Controversy & Control in the Biosciences', is to explore
the social dynamics of controversy over biological weapons. Biological
weapons have been developed since World War II. The advent of recombinant
DNA technology in the early 1970s marked the escalation of research on
biological weapons, some of which is taking place in universities. Yet,
what distinguishes this application of the biosciences, compared with its
other applications, is the remarkable absence of controversy. By comparison
with other applications of the biosciences, for over five decades and until
the recent cases of anthrax, the development and potential uses of
biological weapons for warfare and terrorism have received relatively
little attention, not only in the popular media, but also from public
interest groups and within the social science academic community.
By bringing together participants with expertise on biological weapons
research, other forms of military technology, the dynamics of social
controversy and the social sciences more generally, this seminar seeks to
address the following questions:
· Have there indeed been five decades of silence on biological weapons?
· Why has the topic of biological weapons had so little presence in public
discourse and the social sciences research agenda compared to other
applications of the biosciences?
· What are the social dynamics of its emergence into mainstream discourse
at present?
· What are the similarities & differences between the social dynamics of
controversy and control over biological weapons compared to nuclear &
chemical weapons?
There are still some places available for this seminar. If you are
interested in participating, or would like further details, please email
[log in to unmask] or visit http://www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/crict/sdccb.htm
Registration is also possible for the fifth seminar in the series: 'Do Bio
Artifacts Have Ethics'?, 15 February 2002, Brunel University.
Marike Van Harskamp
CRICT
Brunel University
Uxbridge UB8 3PH
UK
01895 203111
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