Biotechnology: The changing relationship of science and society 

Advances in science and technology have, especially in the 20th and 21st centuries, dramatically improved our quality of life. However, they have also sparked controversial debates on social and ethical issues. Life sciences and biotechnology have, in particular, inspired equal measures of fascination and anxiety in our society.

A conference entitled 'Life sciences in society today', which is being held in Geneva on 22-23 March, discusses the impact of life sciences on education and culture in Europe. Speakers from science, the arts, humanities and politics, including Federico Mayor Zaragoza, former Secretary General of UNESCO, sociologist Helga Nowotny and philospher Christopher Bigsby, debate the reasons behind our society's ambiguous stance towards science.

While for centuries, science was largely equated with progress and its findings were considered 'neutral' - i.e. beyond the reach of value judgements and ideologies - these perceptions are changing. Apart from changing the way we look at our own lives, breakthroughs in biotechnologies have also prompted questions about the dangers of abuse of scientific discoveries and the need for better democratic controls.

The conference is organised and chaired by the European Group on Life Sciences (EGLS), which was established in 2000 to advise the Commission on the state and development of life sciences and biotechnology. Conference participants include scientists, philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, politicians, writers and other artists.