News archive
MUSA CLIFFORTIANA
5th December 2007
Research fellow Staffan Mueller-Wille has contributed an introduction to a new, English translation by Stephen Freer of Musa Cliffortiana, a book that Carl Linnaeus, the famous Swedish naturalist, published in 1736. In this book, Linnaeus described one of the earliest banana trees ever to bear fruit in Europe. Read More
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT EGENIS
19th November 2007
Egenis is currently recruiting a part-time (50%) Communications Officer to disseminate Egenis's research to academic and non-academic audiences, and maximise the impact of our research on practice and policy. Closing date for applications is 19th November 2007.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT EGENIS
5th November 2007
Egenis is currently offering two five year research fellowships, one in the area of medical sociology, the other in regulation and governance of human genomics. Subject to a standard one year probationary period, these posts are expected to lead to permanent continuing positions in the Department of Sociology and Philosophy at the end of the initial five years. Closing date for applications 12:30 pm, 29 October 2007.
NEW PROJECT AT EGENIS ON APOMIXIS
27th November 2007
Apomixis is a mode of plant reproduction akin to “self-cloning”, whereby plants produce seed asexually which replicates and conserves the maternal type in its DNA. Many plant scientists regard Apomixis as a mechanism for capturing strengths produced by hybridization. Geneticists and molecular biologists are labouring to identify the genomic components which enable Apomixis. The egenis project will study the emergence of this new biotechnology in “real time”.
Read more on the project.
TEACHING ETHICS AND STEM CELL ROLE PLAY
12th September 2007
Egenis researchers have developed a role play educational tool which has sparked interest from both national and international learning resource centres. The tool introduces students to stem cell science and its ethical implications, engaging the participants in decision making as a mock research ethics committee. The scenario simulates a realistic situation in which planning, negotiation and decision making are required form each participant. Read more on (pdf).
MOLECULAR LABORATORY: REPRESENTATIONS OF TIME
10th July 2007
Deborah Robinson, Artist in Residence with Egenis, molecular laboratory imagepresents images produced at the Sanger Institute, Cambridge in an Information Society posting on the web. The work includes pinhole images resulting in the breakdown of the solidity of objects. Dialogue about the developing artwork is with Professor Gabriella Giannachi.
ISHPSSB PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME
5th June 2007
The preliminary full programme of the Summer 2007 meeting of The International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology has now been finalised.
BIBLIO DATABASE ON GENOMICS, SYSTEMS BIOLOGY, METAGENOMICS AND SOCIOGENOMICS LAUNCHED
15th May 2007
The aim of this annotated bibliography is to make science and its implications more accessible to those with philosophical, historical and sociological interests in the various fundamental questions being asked and answered by genomics and related forms of molecular biology. It contains many annotated scientific texts that can be searched for different topics and uses.
HEREDITY PRODUCED BY DR. STAFFAN MUELLER-WILLE
30th April 2007
Scholars from a broad range of disciplines have explored the development of the concept of heredity in a new book published by the MIT press and edited by Staffan Mueller-Wille and Hans-Jorg Rheinberger. The book, entitled Heredity Produced; At the Crossroads of Biology, Politics,and Culture, encompasses much of the work of the Cultural History of Heredity project, based at Egenis and the Max Plank Institute for the History of Science.
WHAT IS A GENE?
8th January 2007
The December issue of The Journal of Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics has a special issue on the question of What is a Gene? and features articles by Egenis Associate Professor Dr Lenny Moss and visiting Professor Paul Griffiths.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE RECEIVES ARTS COUNCIL GRANT
13th December 2006
Egenis Artist Deborah Robinson has received a substantial grant from the Arts Council to continue her work. Her project is to develop imagery based on recording the overlooked – a kind of ‘underside’ – of science. Read more.
EGENIS FUNDED UNTIL 2012
23rd Novemeber 2006
The ESRC have announced a further 5 years funding for Egenis. Egenis will recieve over £4 million to continue its research in the impact of genomic science on society, and will continue to be lead by Prof John Dupre. Read more on Read more on further investment for genomics (pdf)
NUTRIGENOMICS PROJECT LAUNCHED
9th November 2006
A new study at Egenis, funded by the Wellcome Trust, will for the first time examine the kind of claims made by companies and governments seeking to identify suitable diets according to your genetic constitution. Marketing of commercial nutrigenomic tests, which offer DNA-based dietary advice, has sparked accusations of misleading the public with unwarranted health claims.
EGENIS HOSTS ISHPSSB SUMMER MEETING
6th November, 2006
A call for papers has been released for the summer meeting of the International Society for History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB). The meeting brings together scholars from diverse disciplines, including the life sciences as well as history, philosophy, and social studies of science.
STEM CELL PROJECT LAUNCHED
4th October 2006
Egenis has appointed two Research Associates, Susanne Weber & Katrin Gehring, to work on the ESRC funded project "Stem Cell Research in Context. A Comparative Study on the Dynamic Relationship Between Science, Medicine, and Society". The study seeks to compare the ways in which different regulation of stem cell science in the UK and Germany affects the science conducted and vice versa.
CALL FOR PAPERS - INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP "HEREDITY IN THE CENTURY OF THE GENE (A CULTURAL HISTORY OF HEREDITY)
14th December 2005
The ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society, University of Exeter, and the Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, are jointly organizing a workshop " Heredity in the Century of the Gene (A Cultural History of Heredity IV)". This workshop, scheduled to take place at the University of Exeter December 11-13 2006, is part of a series of workshops forming the backbone of a long term research project on the cultural history of heredity. The project aims to uncover the technical, juridical, medical, and scientific practices in which the knowledge of inheritance was historically anchored in different epochs and to understand the genesis of today’s naturalistic concept of heredity. Scholars from a wide variety of disciplines, including historians of art and literature, medicine, law, or economics, are invited to submit paper proposals. Conference language is English. Costs for travel and accommodation will be covered. For further information see Call for papers- Heredity in the Century of the Gene or e-mail S.E.W.Mueller-Wille@exeter.ac.uk.
HEREDITY IN THE CENTURY OF THE GENE REPORT
12th December 2005
How did the rise of genetics in the last century change our concepts of inheritance? This question was addressed by two groups of researchers from the ESRC Research Centre for Genomics in Society (Egenis) and the Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science (Berlin) who met for a one-day-workshop at the University of Exeter. In a lively exchange historians, sociologists, and philosophers of science discussed the impact of the "gene" on conceptions of genealogy, reproduction, and identity. The workshop was the opening event for a two year Academic Research Collaboration programme between Egenis and the Max-Planck-Institute jointly funded by the British Council and the German Academic Exchange Service.
PHILOSOPHICAL AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF MICROBIOLOGY WORKSHOP
21st April 2006
A workshop (July 13th-14th 2006) exploring a range of profound philosophical issues in microbiology in relation to their broader social implications. Confirmed speakers include Professor Jan Sapp (York, Toronto), Professor James Shapiro (Chicago) and Professor Carol Cleland (Colorado). The Wellcome Trust is providing funding for travel and accommodation for up to four graduate students. More details.
EGENIS PRESS RELEASE: LOST OPPORTUNITIES IN CROP PLANT SCIENCE IN EUROPE
7th December 2005
The current lack of investment in European crop science, which may be due to Europe’s long-standing scepticism about genetically modified plants or ‘GM’, has lead to a neglect of broader genomics-based approaches for improving crop plants, notably ‘marker-assisted breeding’. Lost opportunities in crop science (pdf).
PUBLICATION: FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
29th November 2005
Systems biology seeks to build on the spectacular data sets produced by genomics and proteomics to develop an understanding of the function of biological systems. In a paper in this month's BioEssays, Egenis Visiting Research Fellow Maureen O'Malley and Egenis Director John Dupré argue that "clearly identifying and conceptualising the system under investigation in any particular research project is an important philosophical dimension of systems biology and integral to the success of the science". A review on the Faculty of 1000 website, a online literature awareness tool for the biological sciences, rates the paper as "Exceptional". Read more about this research.
DR MATT RIDLEY'S OPENING TALK 'HOW NURTURE TURNS ON NATURE'
26th Ocober 2005
Dr Matt Ridley
Dr Matt Ridley's opening talk 'How Nurture Turns on Nature' presented at Exeter's Cafe Scientifique to open the recent Egenis conference 'Genomics in Context' has been digitised and can now be viewed on the Egenis website under Lecture Clips.You can also view the Conference Report.
NEW METAPHORS FOR NEW TIMES
10th October 2005
"There are an awful lot of extremely complicated ways to be gene". This is how Egenis Visiting Professor Paul Griffiths summed up the current state of contemporary molecular genomics at the recent workshop Conceptual Implications in the Dissemination of Genomics, part of the Representing Genes project. And while there are different ways of being a gene, different professionals and the public also work with different conceptions of what genes are and what they do. This workshop was attended by science communicators, professionals who work in the dissemination of genomic knowledge to doctors and nurses, as well as scholars in the history, philosophy and sociology of biology. Together, they discussed how best to communicate new genomic understandings to the wider public with the help of new metaphors. A report on the workshop, ‘The Sociable Gene’ by Jon Turney, is published in the September 2005 issue of EMBO Reports. One-day
WORKSHOP: HEREDITY IN THE CENTURY OF THE GENE
30th Sepember 2005
EGENIS COMMENT: SNAP CRACKLE BLAST
5th July 2005
In response to the recent announcement that the genome of Magnaportha grisea, the pathogen that causes Rice Blast and substantial losses to the global rice harvest each year, Professor Steve Hughes takes a look at the genome and considers what the evolutionary tit for tat between plant and pathogen means for biotechnology and agriculture. Read Professor Hughes' comments.
EXETER SCIENTISTS TAKE FIRST STEP TO BEATING BIGGEST KILLER OF WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT CROP
15th June 2005
Scientists from The University of Exeter have taken a major step towards beating the globe's most destructive rice killer, by helping to complete the first sequence of its genome. Read the story here.
FULLY FUNDED PhD/MSc STUDENTSHIP - REGULATION AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS GENETICS AND GENOMICS
15th June 2005
This studentship will explore the relationships between public attitudes and regulatory developments in genomics. Full details of studentship.
EGENIS COMMENT: FEMALE SEXUAL RESPONSIVENESS
9th June 2005
Professor John Dupre responds to recent reports showing that female sexual responsiveness could be genetic. Read Professor Dupre's comments.
COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 24th March 2005
18th April 2005
Egenis co-director Steve Hughes responds to this controversial report, which “recommends amongst other things the relaxation of constraints on human embryo sex selection during the practice of in vitro fertilisation-assisted conception”. Read Steve Hughes's paper in full.
LOLLE AT AL, IN NATURE 'GENOME-WIDE NON-MENDELIAN INHERITANCE.....'
18th April 2005
Egenis co-director Steve Hughes asks, “Targeted gene editing in vivo: a new precision but will it galvanise gene therapy?”
YOUNG SCHOLAR AWARD FOR EGENIS RESEARCHER
5th Apil 2005
Egenis Research Fellow Christine Hauskeller has been awarded the Young Scholar's Award (2005/2006) from the Centre for Ethics and Public Life at Cornell University, Ithaca, USA. The Cornell Young Scholar's Award is designed to encourage research of analysis on contemporary social issues and its major benefit is a weekend of discussion on Christine's work in the ethics of biomedical technology which will happen next spring in Ithaca. Christine was awarded for her work concerning stem cell research and the implications of genomic knowledge.
PATENTS AND THE FUTURE OF GM
10th February2005
An article published in Nature on 10th Feb demonstrates that transfers of DNA to plant cells is not, as was previously assumed, restricted to an Agrobacterium. This could mean new approaches to the construction of genetically modified plants. Agrobacterium GM is currently dominated by the patents of two large companies, Syngenta and Monsanto. Egenis co-director Steve Hughes wonders whether the new research could open up the industry to broader participation. Patents and the future of GM .
EGENIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2005: GENOMICS IN CONTEXT
25th January 2005
We are pleased to announce our forthcoming international conference 'Genomics in Context', which takes place in Exeter, 28th-30th September 2005. The conference will be launched by an open access keynote address by Matt Ridley. A call for papers and list of plenary speakers will be available soon.
EXETER RATED BEST IN UK FOR PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY
24th January 2005
The latest 'Philosophical Gourmet' report, sponsored by Blackwells, rates the University of Exeter as best in the UK for Philosophy of Biology, and also notes its strength in Philosophy of the Social Sciences and Philosophy of Science generally. The Philosophical Gourmet Report.
INNOGEN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
16th December 2004
The ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (Innogen) have issued a second announcement of their international conference 'Evolution of the Life Science Industries', which takes place in Edinburgh, 23rd-25th February 2005. Innogen international conference (pdf file).
POSTGRADUATE WORKSHOP IN PHILOSOPHY OF BIOLOGY
2nd December 2004
Egenis is running a Postgraduate Workshop in Philosophy of Biology, 'New issues in philosophy of biology – new perspectives for philosophy of science' at the University of Exeter, May 24-28 2005. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the organizers. Applications received before February 28, 2005, will be given full consideration for funding. More details...
RECIPE: INFLAMMATORY GM BANANA
22nd November 2004
After the 'Genomics Salad', Egenis co-director Steve Hughes has come up with a genomics pudding recipe: 'Inflammatory GM Banana'. (That's GM as in Grand Marnier, of course). It looks like a chromosome, and it's delicious and nutritious after dinner.
CARR CONFERENCE
26th October 2004
The ESRC Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation (CARR), based at the London School of Economics, is planning a small conference with Egenis on the regulation of genetics, to be held in Exeter on the 10th and 11th March 2005. More about the CARR conference.
RESEARCH POST AVAILABLE IN EGENIS- CLOSES 22 OCTOBER 2004
12th October 2004
We are seeking a Research Fellow to work for 12-months at Egenis with a team from University College London, the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Nottingham on a project investigating patient interpretations of evaluating family history of heart disease.
NEW RESEARCH FELLOWS IN EGENIS
21:09:04
We are pleased to welcome two new research fellows into Egenis. Michael Hauskeller joins us with funding from the Wellcome Trust. He will research 'the integrity of living beings as a normative concept in bio-ethics'. Staffan Mueller-Wille, from the Max Planck Institute in Germany joins us as part of a major AHRB grant. He will be carrying out research in the field of the cultural history of heredity. More about Staffan. More about Michael.
PFGS PROGRAMME AVAILABLE
23rd August 2004
The programme for the Postgraduate Forum on Genomics and Society (see previous news item) is now available. Download it in pdf format.
EGENIS TO HOST POSTGRADUATE FORUM ON GENOMICS AND SOCIETY 2004
27th July 2004
Egenis will host this year's Postgraduate Forum on Genomics and Society, 'Profits, Politics and Publics: disputed boundaries in genetics', 1st-3rd September 2004. For more details, and to submit papers, visit the PFGS website.
VISITING RESEARCHER, MAUREEN O'MALLEY
12th July 2004
Interdisciplinary researcher Maureen O'Malley of the Ford Doolittle Evolutionary Genomics Lab in Canada (part of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University is visiting Egenis for six months, looking into the development of the science of genomics.
EGENIS MSC IN GUARDIAN JOBS
12th Juy 2004
The Egenis MSc 'Genomics in Society' got a write-up in the Jobs section of the Guardian Online website. Read it here..
FESTIVAL IN THE CITY
25th June 2004
The BA Festival of Science is the BA's showcase event and one of the UK's biggest science festivals. This year's festival is being hosted by Exeter University, and will for the first time be accompanied by a diverse programme of events all over Exeter and the region, with the aim of engaging a broad range of local audiences. The programme of events has been organised by Ginny Russell and Adam Bostanci, of Egenis, as a consultancy to the BA. More details...
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE-ONLINE DIARY NOW ONLINE
24th June 2004
The Egenis website has a new Artist in Residence section. Go there...
APPOINTMENT OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
8th June 2004
Deborah Robinson has been appointed as Egenis Artist in Residence. She will publish an online account of her collaboration describing the processs leading to the finished artwork as it develops. Deborah will lead a workshop for users and give a seminar as part of our internal seminar programme. The residency will culminate in an artwork informed by the work of Egenis that will be exhibited either here at the University of Exeter, or in the city. For more information about the artist in residence post, see this earlier news item.
NEW APPOINTMENT AT EGENIS
13th May 2004
Paul Griffiths of the University of Pittsburgh has accepted an anniversary chair post as Professor of Philosophy at Egenis. Paul is well known for his work in the Philosophy of Biology and has collaborated with Egenis on the 'Representing Genes' project which is funded by the National Science Foundation.
HUMAN GENOME MEETING, 4-7 April 2004
19th April 2004
Representatives of the ESRC Genomics Network including Egenis attended this year's meeting of the international Human Genome Organisation in Berlin. Opened by Germany's science and education minister Edelgard Bulmahn, the meeting brought together leading researchers as well as a growing number of social scientists interested in the social implications of human genome research. Talks addressed topics ranging from large-scale structural variation within the human genome to the process of collecting DNA samples from a Yoruba community in Nigeria for the international HapMap research project. The full programme is available at http://hgm2004.hgu.mrc.ac.uk/.
SIR JOHN SULSTON CONFERENCE SPEECH AVAILABLE ONLINE
13th April 2004
We invited Nobel prize-winning scientist Sir John Sulston to open our inaugural international conference, “The Meanings of Genomics”. His presentation, “From Genetics to Genomics”, is now available online. More details...
RESEARCH FELLOW IN ONLINE EU ELECTION DEBATE
13th April 2004
Research Fellow Christine Hauskeller is contributing to Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung a german public access website which hosts discussions on issues in the forthcoming European Union elections. Christine will be providing expert opinion on the consequences of European unification for national regulation of genomic science.
LOCAL BUSINESS WELCOME FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE
30th March 2004
On Friday 26th March, Ginny Russell, our External Relations Officer, gave a talk to the Exeter Business Forum about Egenis and the forthcoming BA Festival of Science, which will this year be hosted at Exeter University (6th-10th September). Businesses ranging from the Met Office to Exeter Airport were represented, and the response was enthusiastic.
Ginny, with Adam Bostanci, also of Egenis, is organising the Fringe Festival of Science which will run alongside the core festival. The Fringe Festival will feature a variety of science-related attractions and talks. More details in due course.
RECENT TALKS BY JOHN DUPRÉ
25th March 2004
Egenis director John Dupre has recently been on both sides of the Atlantic giving talks for non-specialist audiences on genomics, 'genomic spaces' and the question of whether or not genes exist. In December he joined a workshop hosted by the Boston Consulting Group on 'Spaces and Constraints', where he gave a presentation on genomic spaces. In January he presented at the Cafe Scientifique in Manchester and also gave a talk at Royal Institute of Philosophy entitled 'Are There Genes?', to a non-specialist audience.
EGENIS CO-DIRECTOR STEVE HUGHES TAKES PART IN BA NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK
22nd March 2004
Steve Hughes performed two events in the British Association's National Science Week. He lead a discussion on the relationships of science and art, Uncommon Threads through Science and Art, as the inaugural event for the St. Austell SciBar at St. Austell Brewery ("Outstanding beer - Tribute late hopped - very complex and floral. The first time I've presented with the laptop balanced on a firkin"). He also lead a sixth form discussion, Looking at the World through DNA, with a focus on the social and ethical questions surrounding the Human Genome Project.
ARTIST OR WRITER IN RESIDENCE
3rd March 2004
THOMAS MORTON JOINS THE EGENIS TEAM
19th February 2004
New post doctoral researcher Thomas Morton has joined Egenis based in the Department of Psychology.
NEW EGENIS RESEARCH FELLOW
8th January 2004
A new research fellow, Dr Carol Morris, joined Egenis in December 2003. Carol will be working on societal issues concerning genetically modified animals in domestic enviroments.
NEW POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTSHIPS IN EGENIS FOR 2004
10th December 2003
Egenis is inviting applications for a number of new postgraduate research studentships starting in October 2004.
BRITISH ASSOCIATION FRINGE FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE 2004
Members of Egenis staff have been awarded a £6,000 consultancy to co-ordinate the British Association Fringe Festival of Science in 2004. For more details, contact Ginny Russell at egenis-ero@e.ac.uk, Egenis External Relations Officer.
BRIAN RAPPERT AWARDED ESRC RESEARCH GRANT
13th November 2003
Brian Rappert, Sociology Lecturer and Egenis associate, has been awarded an ESRC grant of £100,000 for work on Biological Weapons, Security and the Silencing of Science.
NEW EGENIS PHD STUDENTS
13th November 2003
Egenis is pleased to welcome two new PhD students, Bonnie Green and David Tyfield.
CESAGEN CONFERENCE-CALL FOR PAPERS
12th Novemer 2003
1st CESAGen International Conference, 'Genomics and Society', 2-3 March 2004, The Royal Society, London.
Conference details. Deadline for papers, 30th November 2003.
FIRST CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE A GREAT SUCCESS
9th Otober 2003
The first of the Café Scientifique seris organised by Egenis was a great success. Professor Richard Gregory delivered a talk on the neuropsychology of visual illusions, including some practical demonstrations, and this was followed by questions and discussion from the (very large) audience.
£20,000 AWARD FOR RESEARCH PROJECT INVOLVING EGENIS CO-DIRECTOR
24th September 2003
Arts Council England and the Arts and Humanities Research Aboard have awarded a major research fellowship to a project that includes Egenis co-director Steve Hughes as a member of its science team.
The recipient of the £20,000 award is Mike Phillips of University of Plymouth, with research fellow Peter Fend. The project is entitled "Global feed: see for yourself, towards self-reliance", and aims to use real-time satellite data in such a way that whole-Earth activity such as the 'health' of the oceans, can be understood by non-scientists.
Building on long term research into eye-brain information processing, this project will look at whether it's possible to organise the display of vast amounts of satellite data for quick readability and comprehension. It will also attempt to decide what kinds of satellite and other site-specific data to process and how and when to do this, in order that the public and the research community can see for itself how biologically productive and healthy the global oceans are. The explicit vision here is that science and art, in a rigorous research context which prioritises communication to non-specialists, can work together to foster ecological sustainability of global resources and life. Peter Fend has worked extensively in art and research contexts, most notably in his founding of the Ocean Earth Development Corporation, and a major exhibition on the ecological impact of the 'Three Gorges Dam' on the Yangtze River. Science Team: Dr Guido Bugmann, Dr Samantha Lavender, Professor Stephen Hughes, Professor Roy Ascot, have research backgrounds in: artificial vision systems, ocean colour research, science communication and social impacts of genetic science, and cybernetics and telematics.
CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUE FOR EXETER
2nd September 2003
Egenis has set up a “Café Scientifique” for Exeter. Café Scientifique is a nationally organised movement aimed at promoting public debate about latest scientific issues. The idea is to hold regular informal debates in a cafe, bar, restaurant, or some other non-academic venue (one with a relaxed atmosphere and refreshments to hand). Everyone is welcome to attend and take part. The debate will usually be kick-started with a short talk by a guest expert. More details and draft programme
EXETER AWARDS HONORARY DEGREES TO GENOMICS FIGURES
7th August 2003
Exeter University has awarded honorary degrees to Suzi Leather and Sir John Sulston, both prominent figures in the field of genomics (Sir John will be a keynote speaker at the Egenis international seminar Meanings of Genomics, to be held in November 2003). Egenis director Professor John Dupré delivered the award orations for both: Leather .rtf
EGENIS AT ISHPSSB MEETING, VIENNA 2003
23rd July 2003
A team of researchers from Egenis attended the 2003 meeting of the International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB, or 'ISH') on Wednesday, 16 to Sunday, 20 July 2003. More details...
VISIT OF PROFESSOR LENNY MOSS
20th July 2003
Professor Lenny Moss, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, will be visiting Egenis in the week 21st – 26th July 2003.
DNA PHOTOCOPYING
7th May 2003
Egenis staff visited the interactive science centre At-Bristol to take part in ‘DNA Photocopying’, a workshop designed to give non-scientists a chance to work with DNA. More details...
PUBLIC REACTIONS TO GENOMICS DEBATE
9th April 2003
Sara Melendro-Oliver participated in a debate jointly organised by The Genetics Knowledge Park in the North West (NoWGEN) and the ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (CESAGen).
The seminar was celebrated at the Lancaster House Hotel and its main focus was on public reactions towards new genomics-related developments and how better forms of public engagement and uptake might be encouraged by more ‘usptream’ thinking in the initial stages of such developments.
The meeting brought together specialists from the different fields that work on this area. There were representatives of biotech companies (GlaxoSmithKline), NHS, DH, NGOs (GeneWatch UK) and academics from the three ESRC Genomics Networks and other institutions.
VISIT TO STOA ANNUAL LECTURE
25th March 2003
Richard Holdsworth attended the European Parliament's first STOA (Scientific and Technological Options Assessment) Annual Lecture - by the Nobel Laureate Professor Kary Mullis on "Risks and opportunities in the biotechnology era" - in Brussels.
INTERACTIVE DRAMA
20th March 2003
A new interactive drama developed with input from Egenis Co-Director Steve Hughes and Egenis Associate John Bryant will be performed at over 50 schools and collleges this year. The play dramatises the ethical dilemmas raised by the case of Anna, a fictional character who suffers from a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder. During the performance the audience is asked to give its views on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, a currently unlawful technique that could save Anne's life.
CONFERENCE
17th March 2003
John Dupre and Jane Calvert attended the recent (March 17-19th) conference in Cambridge "Who Twists the Helix" (www.twistedhelix.org), celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA. The conference addressed many aspects of the significance of this event 50 years on, and included a Citizens' Jury who concluded the conference with a range of policy recommendations relating to both human and agricultural genetics.
Both John and Jane were lucky winners of a lottery to take part in a visit to the Sanger Centre
LAUNCH OF EGENIS
10th March 2003
The official launch of Egenis took place on 3rd of March 2003. More details...
EGENIS DIRECTOR SAYS DEBATING THE RISK OF GM IS A RED HERRING
15th August 2003
Prof Steve Hughes of Egenis quoted in the Science Museum's science and technology news website Antenna in an item about GM foods.
TALK BY GINNY RUSSELL - IS COMMERCIAL SCIENCE FAIRLY REPORTED?
18th December 2002
RSA, London, "Is commercial science fairly reported?" - Ginny Russell spoke to an audience from academia, industry and the media, about her experiences in television reporting sciences and the ESRC ‘Who’s Misunderstanding Whom’ report.
STEVE HUGHES TALKS ON GENOMICS IN AGRICULTURE
5th December 2002
'Newquay, "Farming and Science" - Steve Hughes spoke to The Huers, a group of Cornish farmers, on genomics in agriculture.
'THE DEBATE ON CLONING' WORKSHOP
29th November 2002
'The Debate on Cloning' workshop At-Bristol, Bristol, "The Debate on Cloning" - Ginny Russell delivered a talk to an audience of 16-19 year olds on the science behind cloning and the ethical dilemmas surrounding it. This was followed by a vote from the floor whether to support firstly therapeutic, and secondly reproductive cloning. Two further speakers then debated the ethical dilemmas in more detail. A workshop covering these issues was followed by short presentations on suggested regulation by groups of students.
27 November 2007 - New project at Egenis on Apomixis
05 June 2007 - ISHPSSB Preliminary Programme
The preliminary full programme of the Summer 2007 meeting of The International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology has now been finalised. Registration for the meeting is now available online.
13 December 2006 - Artist in Residence Receives Arts Council Grant
Egenis Artist Deborah Robinson has received a substantial grant from the Arts Council to continue her work. Her project is to develop imagery based on recording the overlooked – a kind of ‘underside’ – of science.
23 November 2006 - Egenis Funded Until 2012
The ESRC have announced a further 5 years funding for Egenis. Egenis will recieve over £4 million to continue its research in the impact of genomic science on society, and will continue to be lead by John Dupre.
06 November 2006 - Egenis Hosts ISHPSSB Summer Meeting
A call for papers has been released for the summer meeting of the International Society for History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB).
14 December 2005 - Call for papers - International Workshop "Heredity in the Century of the Gene
The ESRC Centre for Genomics in Society, University of Exeter, and the Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, are jointly organizing a workshop " Heredity in the Century of the Gene (A Cultural History of Heredity IV)".
12 December 2005 - Heredity in the Century of the Gene Report
How did the rise of genetics in the last century change our concepts of inheritance? This question was addressed by two groups of researchers from the ESRC Research Centre for Genomics in Society (Egenis) and the Max-Planck-Institute for the History of Science (Berlin) who met for a one-day-workshop at the University of Exeter.
21 April 2006 - Philosophical and Social Dimensions of Microbiology Workshop
July 13th-14th 2006. A workshop exploring a range of profound philosophical issues in microbiology in relation to their broader social implications.
29 November 2005 - Publication: Fundamental Issues in Systems Biology
Systems biology seeks to build on the spectacular data sets produced by genomics and proteomics to develop an understanding of the function of biological systems.
26 October 2005 - Dr Matt Ridley's opening talk 'How Nurture Turns on Nature'
Dr Matt Ridley's opening talk 'How Nurture Turns on Nature' presented at Exeter's Cafe Scientifique to open the recent Egenis conference 'Genomics in Context' has been digitised and can now be viewed on the Egenis website under Lecture Clips. You can also view the Conference Report.
15 June 2005 - Fully Funded PhD/MSc Studentship - Regulation and Public Attitudes Towards Genetics and Genomics
This studentship will explore the relationships between public attitudes and regulatory developments in genomics. Full details of studentship.
10 February 2005 - Patents and the Future of GM
Egenis co-director Steve Hughes wonders whether the new research could open up the industry to broader participation. Read Steve's comments in detail (PDF file)
24 January 2005 - Exeter Rated Best In UK For Philosophy of Biology
The latest 'Philosophical Gourmet' report, sponsored by Blackwells, rates the University of Exeter as best in the UK for Philosophy of Biology.
16 December 2004 - Innogen International Conference
The ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (Innogen) have issued a second announcement of their international conference 'Evolution of the Life Science Industries', which takes place in Edinburgh, 23rd-25th February 2005.
12 October 2004 - Research Post Available in Egenis- Closes 22 October 2004
We are seeking a Research Fellow to work for 12-months at Egenis with a team from University College London, the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Nottingham.
21 September 2004 - New Research Fellows In Egenis
23 August 2004 - PFGS Programme Available
The programme for the Postgraduate Forum on Genomics and Society (see previous news item) is now available.
25 June 2004 - Festival in the City
The BA Festival of Science is the BA's showcase event and one of the UK's biggest science festivals.
24 June 2004 - Artist In Residence-Online Diary Now Online
The Egenis website has a new Artist in Residence section.
08 June 2004 - Appointment Of Artist In Residence
Deborah Robinson has been appointed as Egenis Artist in Residence.
19 April 2004 - Human Genome Meeting 4-7 April 2004
Representatives of the ESRC Genomics Network including Egenis attended this year's meeting of the international Human Genome Organisation in Berlin.
30 March 2004 - Local Business Welcome Festival Of Science
On Friday 26th March, Ginny Russell, our External Relations Officer, gave a talk to the Exeter Business Forum about Egenis and the forthcoming BA Festival of Science , which will this year be hosted at Exeter University (6th-10th September).
22 March 2004 - Egenis Co-Director Steve Hughes Takes Part in BA National Science Week
Steve Hughes performed two events in the British Association's National Science Week.
23 July 2003 - Egenis At ISHPSSB Meeting, Vienna 2003
A team of researchers from Egenis attended the 2003 meeting of the International Society for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB) on Wednesday, 16 to Sunday, 20 July 2003.
10 March 2003 - Launch of Egenis
The official launch of Egenis was held on Monday March 3rd.
Genomics in Context Report
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05 November 2007 - Job opportunities at Egenis
19 November 2007 - Job opportunities at Egenis
05 December 2007 - Musa Cliffortiana
Research fellow Staffan Mueller-Wille has contributed an introduction to a new, English translation by Stephen Freer of Musa Cliffortiana, a book that Carl Linnaeus, the famous Swedish naturalist, published in 1736. In this book, Linnaeus described one of the earliest banana trees ever to bear fruit in Europe.
10 September 2005 - Genomics in Context report
19 November 2007 - Job opportunities at Egenis
Egenis is currently recruiting a part-time (50%) Communications Officer to disseminate Egenis's research to academic and non-academic audiences, and maximise the impact of our research on practice and policy.
05 November 2007 - Job opportunities at Egenis
Egenis is currently offering two five year research fellowships, one in the area of medical sociology, the other in regulation and governance of human genomics.
31 October 2008 - Close Watertight Doors!
Egenis Co-director Steve Hughes reflects on drought tolerance in crop plants.
31 October 2008 - Genomes and What to Make of Them
Egenis Directors launch new book
15 October 2008 - New research project launched
A new research project is underway to investigate public attitudes towards pre-natal testing
14 October 2008 - Art at the National Theatre
Work by Egenis artist in residence Deborah Robinson has been displayed at the National Theatre in London.
16 September 2008 - SynBioStandards Network website launched
The UK network on standards and characterisation in synthetic biology has a new website.
24 September 2008 - British Council grant for international collaboration
Egenis researchers have been awarded £3,300 by the British Council.
16 September 2008 - Egenis researcher invited to work in Berlin
Research Fellow Staffan Müller-Wille is in Berlin for six months as an invited visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science.
27 August 2008 - DIUS Science and Society Consultation
Give the DIUS your views about the role of science in society.
13 August 2008 - BA Festival of Science slot for Egenis Fellow
Egenis Senior Research Fellow Dr Christine Hauskeller was among the speakers at this year’s BA Festival of Science.
30 July 2008 - Innogen Professor, Donald Mackenzie, awarded the 2008 Zelizer Distinguished Scholarship Award
Read more about 'An Engine, Not a Camera'.
29 July 2008 - DNA Database: Public inquiry findings
Independent study concludes more oversight and information is needed.
22 July 2008 - Health Biotechnology to 2030. Report to OECD International Futures Project
Innogen writes a scenario report for the OECD International Futures Programme.
21 July 2008 - Leverhulme grant for 'Tree of Life' network
Egenis researchers have been awarded a grant of more than £70,000 from the Leverhulme Trust.
21 July 2008 - Health Minister joins Egenis for public meeting
More than 80 people attended a public meeting organised by Egenis to debate stem cell and embryo research.
29 May 2008 - EGN is part of new synthetic biology network
Researchers at the Genomics Forum and Innogen are part of a new interdisciplinary network in synthetic biology.
15 July 2008 - Statins for obese children
Dr Hannah Farrimond questions whether overweight children should be prescribed statins.
07 July 2008 - Shaping Scientific Excellence in Agricultural Research
A recent article in 'id21:Communicating Development Research' discusses Innogen agricultural research.
18 August 2008 - Projects and Press Officer vacancies at the Genomics Forum
We are pleased to advertise two exciting short term roles - Projects Officer and Press Officer.
26 June 2008 - Cesagen Summer
Cesagen Involvement in Summer Conferences and Events
20 June 2008 - The Government wants a renewed debate on GM foods
Egenis Director Professor John Dupré heeds the call.
10 June 2008 - Visiting US academic gives public lecture
Anthropologist Hannah Landecker from Rice University, Texas, gave a public talk as part of the ‘Cellular Spaces’ workshop.
15 May 2008 - ESRC Collaborative (CASE) Studentship 2008
Innovation and Regulation Interactions in the Development of Clinical Stem Cell Therapies
13 May 2008 - EGN Strategy Advisory Board
The first meeting of the EGN Strategy Advisory Board will take place at the MRC, London on 9 June 2008.
09 May 2008 - Professor Joyce Tait gives oral evidence for House of Lords Inquiry
05 May 2008 - Prof. Steve Yearley attends Parliamentary/New Statesman Roundtable
07 April 2008 - Health screening for the over-40s
Dr Hannah Farrimond considers the issues surrounding government plans to screen the over-40s.
03 April 2008 - Biofuels: can they really save the planet?
It is promoted as a green solution to our energy crisis, but can bioenergy live up to its promises? Find out more at tonight's Edinburgh International Science Festival event, 'A Green Future in Bioenergy?', National Museum of Scotland from 8pm-9pm.
02 April 2008 - 22-26 June Summer Institute
An Interdisciplinary course for PhD Students and post-doctoral researchers interested in the relationship bewtween genomics and society.
20 March 2008 - March 2008 - ESRC Genomics Network Newsletter
Available online and for download.
19 March 2008 - PFGS Regional meeting - Edinburgh 2008
Researching and interviewing 'elite' groups in the field of biomedicine
17 March 2008 - Egenis PhD Studentships 2008
A number of 1+3 and 3 year PhD studentships are available at Egenis (University of Exeter) for the 2008 academic year.
16 March 2008 - Innogen invites applications for doctoral studentships starting in September 2008
Innogen invites applications for doctoral studentships starting in September 2008.
16 March 2008 - Sperm donors ‘eager’ to meet their children
Innogen research is reported in the Sunday Herald.
10 March 2008 - Comment - Controversy over human-animal hybrid research licences
Members of the Genomics Network research team issue comments on topics in the news.
14 February 2008 - HGC and Genomics Forum Citizens' Inquiry into Forensic Use of DNA gets underway
01 February 2008 - CSG & EGN's Amsterdam conference
Genomics and Society: Setting the Agenda
10 January 2008 - New Innogen Director for Phase II
Professor Dave Wield joins Edinburgh as Director for Innogen Phase II.
18 December 2007 - Exeter Café Scientifique
Egenis organises Exeter Café Scientifique.
18 December 2007 - Gateway to post-genomic science
New open access resource: an annotated bibliodatabase of new molecular biologies
18 December 2007 - Call for Book Proposals
Genetics and Society Book Series.
13 December 2007 - MSc in Translational Medicine
Innogen is providing modules on innovation strategies, risk regulation & governance for this innovative distance learning course.
03 December 2007 - Second EGN meeting held in Xishuangbanna, China
02 December 2007 - New MA programme at Lancaster
New MA in Genetics, Culture and Public Policy.
01 October 2007 - Innogen Enters its Second Phase
October 1st marks the beginning of Phase 2 (2007-2012) of Innogen.
27 September 2007 - Acute Respiratory Infections
Joyce Tait will be leading an important policy study for ESRC.
11 February 2008 - EGN Genomics and Identity Workstream: first workshop
20 October 2008 - September 2008 - ESRC Genomics Network Newsletter
Available online and for download.
07 October 2008 - Innovation in Central and Eastern Europe: The Life Sciences in Transition
Innogen Deputy Co-Director, Dr Peter Robbins edited a special issue of Studies in Ethics, Law and Technology with Farah Huzair, an Innogen PhD Student.
24 November 2008 - International Colloquium, Yaoundé, 7-9 October 2008
Lois Muraguri, a Research Fellow at Innogen, attended an 'International Colloquium on Intellectual Property in the Knowledge Economy: A Challenge for Africa and its Diaspora'.
28 November 2008 - Innogen Researchers lead Executive Course on Health Innovation
Norman Clark, Lois Muraguri and others led the ACTS/Innogen Executive Course on Health Innovation in Africa in Nairobi on 24th - 28th November 2008.
17 December 2008 - Registration Now Open for the RiskBridge Conference, 26-27 March 09, Brussels
The conference will disseminate key findings from the European Commission FP6 funded RiskBridge project.
20 November 2008 - Public Session at American Anthropological Association Annual Conference
Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
27 November 2007 - New project at Egenis on Apomixis
17 June 2008 - Research Fellow gives paper in Istanbul
Egenis Research Fellow Dr Staffan Müller-Wille presented a paper at the 6th meeting of the International Research Group "Science and Technology in the European Periphery" which took place in Istanbul from 18-22 June.
18 June 2008 - Visiting Fellowship for Egenis Researcher
Dr Susan Kelly has been awarded a Social Science Stem Cell Initiative International Visiting Fellowship.
15 September 2008 - Empirical Philosophy Workshop
A group of philosophers and social scientists gathered at Egenis for a workshop entitled Naturalism and Empirical Philosophy.
17 November 2008 - Cesagen Director Delivers Keynote Address at Third International Applied Ethics Conference, Japan
"What is ‘Applied’ in Applied Ethics?"
06 November 2008 - EGN-led session at SB4.0 in Hong Kong
Innogen and Forum staff took part in the 4th International Meeting on Synthetic Biology.
11 November 2008 - Open House for students
Come along on 5 December to find out about postgraduate study at Egenis.
12 November 2008 - New Title in Cesagen Genetics and Society Book Series
Local Cells, Global Science
by Aditya Bharadwaj and Peter Glasner
17 October 2008 - New, ‘safer’ test for Down Syndrome
Egenis Senior Research Fellow Dr Susan Kelly answers some of the questions the proposed new test raises.
13 November 2008 - Revisiting Race in a Genomic Age
A new book explores a vital issue
01 December 2008 - Egenis Director guests on 'Start the Week'
Professor John Dupré was a guest on the Radio 4 programme.
05 May 2009 - EGN 3rd International Conference
ESRC Genomics Network 3rd International Conference: Mapping the Genomic Era: Measurements and Meanings
11 December 2008 - Innogen Professors edit Special Issue of Internationl Journal of Biotechnology
Professor Luigi Orsenigo and Professor Joyce Tait edit special issue Volume 10, Issue 5: 'Evolution of the Life Science Industries'
14 December 2008 - Innogen Professor Mariana Mazzucato Awarded FP7 Research Grant on Finance, Innovation and Growth (FINNOV)
The three year, 1.5 million Euro project will be funded by the European Commission as part of the FP7 theme SSH-2007-1.2.3: The role of finance in growth, employment and competitiveness in Europe.
13 February 2009 - ISSTI Interdisciplinary Masterclass - 22nd - 23rd April 09, Edinburgh
Registration is now open.
03 February 2009 - Innogen contributes two chapters to Nepad’s book on Public Health in Africa
16 April 2009 - Innogen Response to UK Parliamentary Enquiry on Global Food Security
21 April 2009 - Alastair Kent reappointed to Human Genetics Commission
06 May 2009 - Royal Academy of Engineering Report on Synthetic Biology published
Innogen's Dr Jane Calvert was part of the working group.
14 May 2009 - RiskBridge conference proceedings available to download
28 May 2009 - The Limits to Governance
A book by Innogen's Catherine Lyall, James Smith and Theo Papaioannou has been published.
02 June 2009 - Leverhulme Success
Dr Julius Mugwagwa has been awarded a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship.
03 June 2009 - Journal Special Issue published
Innogen's Professor Robin Williams edits a special issue of the Journal of Association for Information Systems
- Joyce Tait awarded Honorary Degree from the Open University
08 June 2009 - Innogen researcher awarded ESRC Placement Fellowship
Ann Bruce will be working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
19 June 2009 - Successful ESRC Grant
Mitigating the environmental impact of cattle and sheep: animal genetics and farmers' readiness for uptake
03 October 2008 - Data Sharing in the Biosciences
Workshop report published summarising the main points of discussion.
