8th EMBO/EMBL Joint Conference on Science and Society

The future of our species – Evolution, disease and sustainable development
2-3 November 2007, EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Conference organizers
EMBO
Andrew Moore
Alessandra Bendiscioli
EMBL
Halldór Stefánsson
Sylke Helbing
For more information scisoc@embo.org

Summary impressions
Conference Programme
Conference abstract book

Press reports of the conference
Zweifelhafte Zukunft unserer Art (Spectrum der Wissenschaft)
AUDIO SWR2 broadcast
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Deutschlandfunk

Final programme

Friday, 2 November
	Iain Mattaj, Director General, EMBL
	Andrew Moore, Chair, Conference Organizing Committee and Science and Society Programme Manager, EMBO
Session I: Emerging, re-emerging and persistent diseases
	Introduction: Hans-Georg Kräusslich (session chair), Director, Dept. of Virology, University of Heidelberg, Germany Biography
Talks:
	“Emerging viral threats to human health in the last 25 years” Albert Osterhaus, Head, Dept. of Virology. Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Biography | Abstract
	“The public health implications of emerging, re-emerging and persistent diseases for the future of the human species” Peter Fonkwo, Freelance International Consultant in Public Health – Community Health and Health Management, Cameroon Biography | Abstract | Presentation
Panel discussion:
	Julian Davies, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Biography | Presentation
	Gérard Krause, Head, Dept. of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert-Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany Biography | Presentation
Session II: Global sustainability and biology
	Introduction: Stefan Bringezu (session chair), Director, Material Flows and Resource Management, Wuppertal Institute, Germany Biography
Talks:
	“Climate change: the global export and import of changes to natural biological systems” Chris Thomas, Professor, Conservation Biology, Dept. of Biology, University of York, UK Biography | Abstract | Presentation
	"How sustainable are we?" Donald Bruce, Ethical Consultanrt, Edinethics Ltd, Edinburg, UK Biography | Abstract | Presentation
Panel discussion:
	Thomas Gale Moore, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, USA Biography | Presentation
	Ilkka Hanski, Metapopulation Research Group, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland Biography | Presentation
	Thomas Henningsen, Greenpeace, Germany Biography | Presentation
	Ralf Kindervater, Chief Executive Officer, BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg, Germany Biography | Presentation
Award ceremony: EMBO Award for Communication in the Life Sciences
	Special evening talk: "The future of humans in space" Marc Heppener, Head of the International Space Station's Utilisation and Microgravity Promotion Division, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Biography
Saturday, 3 November
Session III: Treatment and enhancement
	Introduction: James Hughes, Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, Trinity College, Hartford, USA Biography
Talks:
	“Genetic modification of stem cells for the therapy of inherited diseases” Fulvio Mavilio, Professor of Molecular Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, and Scientific Institute H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy Biography | Abstract | Presentation
	"Enhancement and evolution: the future of humankind ?" Sarah Chan , Research Fellow, Center for Social ethics and policy, School of Law, University of Manchester, UK Biography | Abstract
Panel discussion:
	Eve-Marie Engels, Dept. of Ethics in Biology, University of Tübingen, Germany Biography | Presentation
	Jan Staman, Director, Rathenau Institute, Den Haag, The Netherlands Biography | Presentation
	James Hughes, Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, Trinity College, Hartford, USA Biography | Presentation
	Elaine Dzierzak, Dept. of Cell Biology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Biography | Presentation
Session IV: Human evolution: once were apes…
	Introduction: Volker Mosbrugger (session chair), Director, Seckenberg Research Institute and Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany Biography
Talks:
	“Human origins: the molecular perspective” Mark Stoneking , Dept. of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany Biography | Abstract
	"The future of human evolution: a perspective" Ian Pearson, Futurologist, BT Group Chief Technology Office, Ipswich, UK Biography
Panel discussion:
	Jay T. Stock, Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Dept. of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, UK Biography | Presentation
	Frans Willekens, Director, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, The Netherlands Biography | Presentation
	Jürgen Klüver, Information Technologies and Educational Processes, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany Biography | Presentation
	Jerome H. Barkow, Professor, Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology, University of Dalhousie, Halifax, Canada Biography
	Closing remarks Andrew Moore, Chair, Conference Organizing Committee and Science and Society Programme Manager, EMBO Closing remarks

ORGANISERS
Andrew Moore
Science and Society Programme Manager
EMBO Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Tel: +49 6221 8891-109
E-mail: andrew.moore@embo.org
Web: www.embo.org/scisoc/index.html

Sandra Bendiscioli
Administration Officer
Science and Society Programme
EMBO European Molecular Biology Organization
Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg
Germany
Tel.: +49 6221 8891 119

Sylke Helbing
Course and Conference Office
EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Tel: +49 6221 387-8836
Fax: +49 6221 387-8158
E-mail: helbing@embl.de

Halldór Stefánsson
Science and Society Programme Manager
EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Tel: +49 6221 387-8493
Fax: +49 6221 387-8525
E-mail: halldor.stefansson@embl.de