News
What: Portland State University and Geneforum, a Portland-based nonprofit that educates, engages and consults the public on bioethical issues, will host a lecture, “Improving Humans in the 21st Century,” by James Hughes, discussing the science, ethics and ramifications of improving humans through technology. Hughes believes the convergence of genetics, robotics, information and nanotechnologies will improve human performance and capabilities.
In addition, Hughes will meet with PSU faculty and chairs of the Mark O. Hatfield School and the Department of Engineering and Technology Management to stress how universities can guide the future direction and impact of new technologies through the creation of specialized interdisciplinary policy centers or institutes.
When: Monday, February 6, 2006, from 10–11:30 a.m.
Where: Portland State University, Smith Memorial Student Union, room 294 (1825 S.W. Broadway).
Cost: Free and open to the public.
Contact: For more information, contact Greg Fowler at 503-636-3627 or Andrew Fowler at 503-866-2464.
Background: James Hughes is the executive director of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and author of Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future. Hughes is a bioethicist and sociologist at Trinity College where he teaches Health Policy. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities and the Working Group on Ethics and Technology at Yale University.
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