Why shouldn’t parents have perfect babies?
Released: 13 November 2009
Some of Scotland's leading science, medical, political and bioethics experts will be discussing the subject of eugenics at Eugenics: Science Fiction or Future Reality? the Edinburgh Filmhouse's annual biomedical film festival next weekend (Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd of November 2009).
Cult film classics like GATTACA (1997) starring Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke and the challenging Swedish documentary Homo Sapien 1900 (1998) by Peter Cohen will form the backdrop to debates including to what extent we're already engineering the perfect human race and why shouldn't parents have perfect babies?
The festival is organised with support from the Edinburgh Filmhouse, the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics (SCHB), ESRC Genomics Forum based at the University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland branch of the British Science Association.
Dr Calum MacKellar, Festival Co-ordinator and Director of Research for the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, commented:
“Expert opinions and lively audience discussions are synonymous with our annual film festival. Continuing the tradition of going where other film events do not, 2009's focus will be the broader ethical issues relating to eugenics - the belief that humanity can be improved by encouraging those with desirable traits and discouraging those with undesirable traits to have children. I hope that this event will stimulate plenty of discussion and help people to have their say.”
Dr Steve Sturdy, Deputy Director of the ESRC Genomics Forum and film festival panellist said:
“Developments in biomedical technology continually offer new ways of controlling our biological destinies. But the history of eugenics reminds us that we must constantly review what sorts of development are desirable, and what are unacceptable. The SCHB film festival is a fantastic opportunity for people to think about where biology might be heading, and to share their views on whether it's heading in the right direction.”
Dr Stephan Matthiesen, Chairman of the Edinburgh and S.E. Scotland Branch of the British Science Association, added:
“Our increasing biomedical knowledge fundamentally changes the way we think about what it means to be human, the nature of individuality, and how much of our fate is influenced by free choices or by predetermined factors. Eugenics is one area where these questions - and how they are perceived in society - affect practical decisions. The festival encourages everybody to consider them and form an informed opinion about the chances and dangers.”
For full programme and panellist information, please visit our events pages. Eugenics: Science Fiction or Future Reality?
For ticket information, please call the Edinburgh Filmhouse Box Office on: 0131 228 2688 (Open from 12noon - 9pm daily)
EndsContact name:
Emma-Elizabeth Capewell, Press and Communications Officer, Genomics Forum Tel: 0131 651 4746, E-mail: emma.capewell@ed.ac.uk
Dr Calum MacKellar (SCHB), Tel: 0131 447 6394, E-mail: Calum.MacKellar@schb.org.uk
Note to Editors:
Films include -
Homo Sapiens 1900 - Swedish Documentary in English Directed by Peter Cohen (1998) – 88 min, cert 18
My Sister’s Keeper - Drama, USA, Director Nick Cassavettes (2009) - 109 min, cert 12A
GATTACA - Drama, USA, Director Andrew Niccol (1997) - 112 min, cert 15,
Three Short Films: Eugenic Questions - Documentary Directed by Angel-benito Garcia-Anta (2009) - 15 min
Who's afraid of designer babies? - BBC Horizon Documentary (2005) – 50 min
The Gift BBC adaptation of the play of the same name (1995) – 38 min
Panelists include -
Dr Mair Crouch, Genetics & Law, University of Glasgow
Dr Liam Keegan, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Dr Stephan Matthiesen, Edinburgh and SE Scotland Branch of the British Science Association
Prof. Dr Andy Miah, Chair of Ethics and Emerging Technologies, University of the West of Scotland
Dr Steve Sturdy, Deputy Director ESRC Genomics Forum, University of Edinburgh
Dr Tillman Vierkant, Lecturer in Philosophy of Mind, University of Edinburgh.
1. The Edinburgh Filmhouse is the largest film charity supporting cultural films in Edinburgh and is Scotland's leading independent cinema. It is internationally renowned as a venue for dynamic programming and debate and is the most successful outside London. Its key aim is to challenge and inform by the delivery of an essential, intelligent and enlightening programme for all audiences. Fuller details of the programme can be found at: http://www.filmhousecinema.com/seasons/biomedical-ethics-film-festival/
2. The Scottish Council on Human Bioethics is an independent, non-partisan, non-religious registered Scottish charity composed of doctors, lawyers, psychologists, ethicists and other professionals from disciplines associated with medical ethics. The principles to which the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics subscribe are set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted and proclaimed by the UN General Assembly by resolution 217A (III) on 10 December 1948. http://www.schb.org.uk/
3. Based at the University of Edinburgh, the ESRC Genomics Policy and Research Forum works to connect social science research on genomics with public policy debates and decision making. The Forum runs a programme of national and international activities to draw natural and social scientists, policy makers, regulators, civil society and business into an ongoing dialogue about the relationship between genomics and society. The Forum is part of the ESRC Genomics Network (EGN). We also receive funding from the Scottish and Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). http://www.genomicsnetwork.ac.uk/forum
4. Established in 1831, the British Science Association supports a society in which people from all walks of life are able to engage with and access science while feeling a sense of ownership about its direction. In seeking to connect science with people it promotes openness about science in society and affirms science as a prime cultural force through engaging and inspiring adults and young people directly with science and technology, and their implications. http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/index.htm
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