ethics – Center for Science, Technology, and Society

Joint Chulalongkorn University –

American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN)

Intensive Training Workshop on Ethics of Science and Technology: Preparing Professionals for Ethical Science

Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

8-10 January 2015

Agenda and Background

Convened by the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology, Chulalongkorn University; American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN) and Eubios Ethics Institute.

The training will be led by Professor Darryl Macer, Director of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples and Global Studies, and of the Masters Program in Bioethics and Global Public Health (MBGPH), AUSN, USA and Professor Soraj Hongladarom, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Ethics of Science and Technology at Chulalongkorn University, and AUSN Visiting Professor of Ethics of Science and Technology and Philosophy.

There will be other professors and professionals from a range of fields and countries. There will be intensive bioethics training and mentoring on professional presentation, teaching and research skills, with participants invited to make improved presentations after intense training.

This training will count as 3 credit hours for the MBGPH degree, and one of three required residential Intensive Training Programs to graduate from the MBGPH or MPH programs.¹ Participants can take it as a stand-alone professional development course as well, but we encourage all those involved in teaching bioethics to gather the Masters degree as well, which is offered as a combination of residential and online sessions around the world. This should increase your salary and job opportunities! AUSN will be offering tuition fee waivers for excellent trainees, for the Masters Program in Bioethics and Global Public Health (MBGPH). Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation and meals.

It is free, and it will be fun! – No registration fee for accepted applicants. Register with your background to Ms. Ananya Tritipthumrongchok, Manager, Eubios Ethics Institute, Email: ananya@eubios.info Tel. (+66) 081-870-5959

Draft Agenda

Thursday, 8 January 2015

Room 601/27, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building, Chulalongkorn University

8:30 Registration starts

9:00-12:00 lectures by Darryl and Soraj (covering all the topics on the list below during the conference*)

13:00-14:00 lunch in the ground floor cafeteria

14:00-18:00 lectures by Darryl and Soraj and Others including:

Introduction to the MBGPH and MPH combination hybrid programs of AUSN, Darryl Macer

Ethics, autism and special need kids education – Muhammad Rezki Achyana, Director, Putrakami Foundation; Founder ABA Batam, Batam, Riau Archipelago Province, Indonesia

Title to select from list – Prof, Chutatip Umajavani, Thammasat University, Thailand

Ethics, Technology and Climate Change: Multiple Challenges with Undetermined Future Parameters, Mr, Leonard Le Blanc , Thailand/USA (To confirm)

Title to confirm, Mr. Diwas Chaulagain, UNESCO Youth’s Club, Nepal

*Attention to Speakers:

You can choose your own topic, or select something close to the topics below which we are covering in the 3 day Intensive Course. Please send back your preferences and the precise title to Darryl, Darryl@eubios.info

Topics will include those included by this 3 credit course of AUSN:

1) Ethics and Philosophy of Science

2) History of science and technology

3) Nanotechnology ethics, Professor Soraj Hongladarom

4) Nanotechnology and environmental and health impacts, Professor Soraj Hongladarom

5) Information ethics and privacy, Professor Soraj Hongladarom

6) Artificial intelligence, the singularity, cyborgs, Professor Soraj Hongladarom(?)

7) Ethics and materials sciences

8) Engineering ethics

9) Disaster ethics

10) Professional responsibility for scientists

11) Use of science and technology in determining public health policies

12) Nuclear weapons technology

13) Open topics

14) The paradigms of science in different cultures

Friday, 9 January 2015

Room 601/27, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building, Chulalongkorn University

8:30 Registration starts

9:00-12:00 lectures by Darryl and Soraj (on topic list)

13:00-14:00 lunch in the ground floor cafeteria

14:00-18:00 lectures by Darryl and Soraj and Others

Saturday, 10 January 2015

Room 601/21, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building, Chulalongkorn University

8:30 Registration starts

9:00-12:00 lectures by Darryl and Soraj (on topic list)

13:00-14:00 lunch in the ground floor cafeteria

14:00-17:00 lectures by Darryl and Soraj and Others

End

Conference and Course Learning Objectives

1) How to balance the benefits of science and technology versus the uncertainty of risks, and the precautionary principle.

2) Ethical issues of labeling genetically modified food, and comparisons to other functional foods.

3) Illustrate dilemmas between use of different forms of energy technologies and preservation of the environment.

4) Information ethics and cyborgs, and artificial intelligence.

5) Nanoethics – overview potential effects of nanotechnology on relations between humans and with the environment.

6) Engineering ethics and evolution of professional ethics.

7) Analyze ethical situations that arise in health care, public health, pastoral care, patient advocacy, genetics, medical social work, medical research, environmental sciences and the life sciences.

8) Identify ethical dilemmas through different lens, including those of gender lens, ability studies, and the perspectives of indigenous communities.

9) Create and scrutinize policies and practices in various settings.

Note on the 10^th there will be travel immediately for those coming to Kaeng Krachan (please bring your bags to the conference in the morning, and inform Ananya so that we can make vehicle and accommodation reservations as needed)

Like to see Nature? There will also be a volunteer group going for outdoor training and additional credit in environmental health and ethics, to look after trees and medicinal herbs at the International Peace Park at Kaeng Krachan from 11-12 January if you like to be out of the City, in Trees, Nature and work for Peace. The trees in the peace park were planted by youth from around the world in the name of peace in 2012 and 2013. You can eat the bananas grown at the Park directly from the tree! Come to Thailand in the “cool” season of the year (it is only hot and dry…). We will finish with a night at the Ocean beach, where you may like to swim or reflect on what you have learnt.

Updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/807586302631456/

1 http://au-sn.com/degree-programs/mbgph-master-of-bioethics-and-global-public-health/

You are invited to a talk on:
“Buddhism, Economic Ethics and
the Ideal World of Gift Economy”

by
Karma Lekshe Tsomo
Department of Theology & Religious Studies,
University of San Diego, U.S.A.,

and

Ursula Oswald Spring
Regional Center for Multidisciplinary Research, National Autonomous
University of Mexico

With reflection by Soraj Hongladarom

Friday January 17, 2014 at 13.00 hr., 4th Floor Meeting Room
Social Research Institute, Wisid Prachuabmoh Building
Chulalongkorn University, BANGKOK

The global economy is on the brink of collapse, yet we continue to hear news of corporate buy-outs, multi-million-dollar bonuses, and chronic corruption. What’s the solution? In this talk, Karma Lekshe Tsomo examines the teachings of the Buddha to discover ethical guidelines for economic decision making. Beyond rules and restrictions, she will explore the fundamental principles that could be used to construct an economic system in an ideal world. Ursula Oswald Spring will then introduce the concept of gift economy which is generally a non-category in economics, she will make a reference to mothering as a unilateral free distribution of goods and services and as a means of creating human bonds. She will also give some clues on how the world of gift economy may be attained through visibilizing and mainstreaming matriarchal spirituality. The talk will then be followed by a reflection from Soraj Hongladarom.