QLG6-CT-2002-30107 BIO-T-ETHICS: Strategic initiatives to develop an interdisciplinary organization that contributes research and provides education on ethical aspects of Biotechnology

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Type of Project	Accompanying Measures
Contract No	QLG6-CT-2002-30107
Total Cost	745 KEuro
EC Contribution	745 KEuro
Start Date	2-5-2002
Duration	36 Months

Abstract

This project was launched to overcome the insufficient disciplinarian and theoretical characterization of the branch of Ethics concerned with Biotechnology, and the virtual lack of BioTEthics teaching, particularly at the level of the doctorate student. Thirteen of the foremost authorities in the field, from eleven different European countries, met twice a year to delineate the relevant aspects of the interface biology-industry where ethical expertise is required, to consult with "Witnesses" (ranging from Industry and Research Institutes to NGOs), to organize cooperative studies in ice-breaking areas, and to discuss the means and methods needed to translate research into education. Two pilot courses and one conference were planned during the three-year initiative, with the eventual goal of establishing a European School of BioTEthics. This project consists of

• the formation of a working group
• research activities performed by the group aiming at a better definition of the theoretical field and practical applications of BioT ethics;
• the translation of the theoretical work into teaching and didactic experimentation;
• planning and selecting the ways and means to establish an organization to foster theory and education in BioT ethics.

These points were tackled in sequence with large overlaps in time as a result of which the work contributed to characterizing biotechnology ethics - studied in articles, explored in meetings and discussed in courses - as a self-standing subdiscipline of ethics with clearer goals and limits and with the target set at the interface of industry and biology.

The efforts made succeeded in presenting biotechnology ethics to students and researchers of biotechnology at the graduate level by developing a didactic methodology whose progress was evident by comparing courses in successive years. This interdisciplinary research/education experience has materialized in the publication (described above) that will be used as a text book for future courses and as a dissemination means for the group's ideas.

Naturally, the BTethics teaching fulfils the needs in this field of candidates for the title of European Doctor in biotechnology. However, after experiencing our courses, also EMBO, the European Molecular Biology Organization, has expressed interest in cooperating and offering BTEthics teaching to EMBL graduate students and researchers and is prepared to foster interactions between ethicists and bioscientists.

Finally the vitality of this endeavor is signaled by the interest of ethical scholars in the new European Member States to organize BTEthics courses during the next three years.

Coordinator

European Association for Higher Education in Biotechnology, Italy

Partners

• University of Florence, Italy
• Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France
• National Committee for Research Ethics, Norway

Contacts

Contact

• Franco CELADA / European Association for Higher Education in Biotechnology ITALY

Publication

• Angelo Ponecorboli Editore / IAAS - EDAP ITALY