1. Ethical Issues Facing Science and Technology Yongyuth Yuthavong Minister of Science and Technology, Thailand Asian Bioethics Association/UNESCO Eighth Asian Bioethics Conference (ABC2007) 19-23 March 2007, Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

2. New Paradigms of Science and Technology From knowledge for knowledge sake with applications assumed to application-oriented science and technology. From knowledge for knowledge sake with applications assumed to application-oriented science and technology. From “Science, the Endless Frontier” to “Society, the Endless Frontier” From “Science, the Endless Frontier” to “Society, the Endless Frontier”

3. Science and Technology Change Faster than Light! Twenty years ago Twenty years ago The computer was expensive and inefficient The computer was expensive and inefficient Gene engineering was mostly fiction Gene engineering was mostly fiction Ten years ago Ten years ago Mobile phones and the Web were only starting Mobile phones and the Web were only starting The word “nanotechnology” was almost unknown The word “nanotechnology” was almost unknown

4. Science and technology are moving faster than understanding of implications to society. Science and technology are moving faster than understanding of implications to society.

5. Issues on accessability Both more and less Both more and less “The Digital Divide”: Division between those with resources for access to digital technology, which produces greater resources. “The Digital Divide”: Division between those with resources for access to digital technology, which produces greater resources. BUT “The World is Flat”… BUT “The World is Flat”… Political liberation Political liberation Information technology penetration/open-sourcing Information technology penetration/open-sourcing Outsourcing/supply-chaining Outsourcing/supply-chaining Networking Networking The playing field is levelled. The playing field is levelled.

6. The “Biotech Divide” The divide between those who can and cannot access biotechnologies The divide between those who can and cannot access biotechnologies As consumers or producers As consumers or producers Within the Thai society Within the Thai society Between Thailand and developed countries Between Thailand and developed countries Between Thailand and less developed countries Between Thailand and less developed countries Similar to the “Digital Divide” Similar to the “Digital Divide” Forerunner of the “Nanotech Divide”? Forerunner of the “Nanotech Divide”?

7. Safety of New Products: Biosafety and Nanosafety Concerns about safety Concerns about safety For the consumers For the consumers For the environment For the environment Biosafety Biosafety GMOs GMOs Cloning and stem cells application Cloning and stem cells application Nanosafety Nanosafety Health concerns for nanoparticles Health concerns for nanoparticles New products must take safety issues into account New products must take safety issues into account

8. Has science and technology created a GODZILLA? or many of THEM?

9. Issues for Ethical, Social and Legal Considerations in Biotechnology Cloning: Cloning: Therapeutic tissue/organ cloning (cost and equity> technical>moral) Therapeutic tissue/organ cloning (cost and equity> technical>moral) Whole organism cloning (moral>technical) Whole organism cloning (moral>technical) Deciding factors: embryonic vs adult stem cells, failure rates, risks of complications, eg. cancer, long-term issues Deciding factors: embryonic vs adult stem cells, failure rates, risks of complications, eg. cancer, long-term issues Genomics: Genomics: Pharmacogenomics (cost and equity) Pharmacogenomics (cost and equity) GMOs (biosafety vs benefits) GMOs (biosafety vs benefits) Deciding factors: consumer benefits vs costs, understanding of long-term effects of GMOs on the environment Deciding factors: consumer benefits vs costs, understanding of long-term effects of GMOs on the environment

10. Fukuyama’s Concerns F. Fukuyama:How far do we let biotech go? F. Fukuyama:How far do we let biotech go? Current regulatory bodies are inadequate to deal with future choices, eg. Current regulatory bodies are inadequate to deal with future choices, eg. Manipulating genes which modify behaviour. Manipulating genes which modify behaviour. Using drugs which alter moral character. Using drugs which alter moral character. Extending life, impacting on economies, international relations, and new ideas generation. Extending life, impacting on economies, international relations, and new ideas generation. Creating “designer babies”. Creating “designer babies”.

11. Issues for Ethical, Social and Legal Considerations in Energy Technology Pollution from oil, gas and coal Pollution from oil, gas and coal Production of greenhouse gas from burning: global warming Production of greenhouse gas from burning: global warming Technologies for reducing greenhouse gas: risks and benefits Technologies for reducing greenhouse gas: risks and benefits Threats to biodiversity and environment from renewable technologies (wind turbines, solar panels, waves) Threats to biodiversity and environment from renewable technologies (wind turbines, solar panels, waves) Nuclear material storage and waste Nuclear material storage and waste

12. Beloved Sun Duang Athit Thee Rak Reading for Form 5 of secondary school students: Reading for Form 5 of secondary school students: 2070, the next full eclipse over Ayudhya, Thailand 2070, the next full eclipse over Ayudhya, Thailand The sun has become the main source of power The sun has become the main source of power Solar panels are set above houses, so that darkness prevails all day long Solar panels are set above houses, so that darkness prevails all day long Rather than enduring permanent eclipse on the ground, the heroine broke the law by climbing up to see the real eclipse Rather than enduring permanent eclipse on the ground, the heroine broke the law by climbing up to see the real eclipse

13. Ethical, Social and Legal Implications: Risk management Types of risks Types of risks Technical risks (environment, consumers). Technical risks (environment, consumers). Public perception (political) risks. Public perception (political) risks. Market risk. Market risk. Management of risks Management of risks Risk and benefit analysis. Risk and benefit analysis. Reasonable Precautionary Principle. Reasonable Precautionary Principle. Risk prevention and mitigation. Risk prevention and mitigation.

14. Ethical, Social and Legal Implications: Intellectual Property Management Ownership of, and sovereignty over, genetic resources: natural and developed further by human efforts. Ownership of, and sovereignty over, genetic resources: natural and developed further by human efforts. Indigenous people (Farmers’ rights). Indigenous people (Farmers’ rights). Countries (Biodiversity Convention). Countries (Biodiversity Convention). “Common property of mankind” (free use of natural resources, but restricted by patents for modifications). “Common property of mankind” (free use of natural resources, but restricted by patents for modifications).

15. Back to Godzilla The monster came out from its peaceful territory as a consequence of repeated nuclear bomb experiments. The monster came out from its peaceful territory as a consequence of repeated nuclear bomb experiments. A young scientist found a way to destroy Godzilla A young scientist found a way to destroy Godzilla Unfortunately his invention could also be used as a weapon of mass destruction. Unfortunately his invention could also be used as a weapon of mass destruction. To solve the dilemma, he decided to burn all his documents and end his own life by facing Godzilla under water. To solve the dilemma, he decided to burn all his documents and end his own life by facing Godzilla under water. Can our biotechnologist be as brave?

16. Future Directions: Towards Good Governance in Science and Technology More concerns and discussions on ethics of science and technology by laypeople and scientists alike. More concerns and discussions on ethics of science and technology by laypeople and scientists alike. Voluntary Codes (Guidelines) of Conduct on issues involving risks or ethics by scientists, industries, professional societies, etc. (cf. 1973 voluntary moratorium on genetic engineering). Voluntary Codes (Guidelines) of Conduct on issues involving risks or ethics by scientists, industries, professional societies, etc. (cf. 1973 voluntary moratorium on genetic engineering). New laws may be enacted, but a good sense of balance is needed. New laws may be enacted, but a good sense of balance is needed.

17. Role of government: Role of government: Oversees development and capability strengthening in both technical and social, ethical issues in science and technology. Oversees development and capability strengthening in both technical and social, ethical issues in science and technology. Set up regulations and laws as necesssary, making sure of having a healthy balance. Set up regulations and laws as necesssary, making sure of having a healthy balance. Role of civil societies (NGOs)/scientists Role of civil societies (NGOs)/scientists Help to make the public understand issues in various aspects, not just lobby on single issues. Help to make the public understand issues in various aspects, not just lobby on single issues. Future Directions: Towards Good Governance in Science and Technology (cont)

18. Role of education/research institutes Role of education/research institutes Acquire knowledge and understanding on issues interfacing between technology and society. Acquire knowledge and understanding on issues interfacing between technology and society. Help to generate healthy debates among various stakeholders and the public. Help to generate healthy debates among various stakeholders and the public.

19. … economics can be substantially enriched by paying more attention to ethics, and …the study of ethics can also benefit from a closer contact with economics. Amartaya Sen

20. Science and technology can be substantially enriched by paying more attention to ethics, and the study of ethics can also benefit from a closer contact with science and technology. Thank you