Public Science in Liberal Democracy Conference Starts Today
Posted October 14, 2004
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 14, 2004 2004-10-12-AR
Public Science in Liberal Democracy Conference Starts Today
More than 20 speakers and 100 academics and policy makers will convene at
the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon October 14-16 to examine the role of
science and scientists in the formation of public policy.
The conference will feature three days of presentations and discussion by U
of S, Canadian and international academics and policy-makers. The opening
keynote presentation is by Steven Shapin, a professor in the history of
science department at Harvard University. U of S Provost and Vice-President
Academic Michael Atkinson will chair the presentation.
"The idea of public science is relatively new to human history," says Peter
Phillips, one of the conference organizers and a U of S political studies
professor.
"It wasn't until the mid 20th century, and the debate and dialogue over
nuclear weapons, that science and public policy really started to become
interconnected."
More recently, a host of public science issues have found their way onto the
policy agenda: global warming, stem cell research, human reproduction,
genetic manipulation and agricultural production.
Phillips says scientists are now required participants in public policy
discussions, and can no longer simply provide facts and let others make the
value judgments. As a result, he says, the role of science itself in society
is being changed and redefined.
"This brings with it a whole set of challenges, issues and questions we need
to be asking ourselves. This conference is an important step toward doing
just that."
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Note to editors: Additional information and full program details are
available at http://www.publicscience.usask.ca/.
For more information, contact:
Dale Worobec
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1474
dale.worobec@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
Peter Phillips
Department of Political Studies
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4021
phillips@duke.usask.ca
