| International conference on dual use |
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Potential misuse of research results (called ‘dual use’) constitutes a peril of the international safety. As the debate on various aspects of dual use started only recently, the problem still needs to be discussed among scholars, politicians, and society. There is no doubt that raising the international awareness would be the very first step to cope with the problem.
Thus, the Polish Academy of Sciences performed a role of a host and organized an international conference on “The Advancement of Science and the Dilemma of Dual Use: Why We Can't Afford to Fail”. The conference took place on 9-10 November, at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. The conference participants not only represented a range of disciplines, including medicine, ethics, science, and law, but also represented different nationalities. In an interview given to the Channel 1 of the Polish Radio Prof. Michał Kleiber – PAN President – stressed the importance of dual use to the development of science and the world’s peaceful existence. Hence, the subtitle of the conference: “Why We Can't Afford to Fail.” The phenomenon of dual use (misuse of research results) is a key matter for contemporary world. One of the premises of the Warsaw meeting was to point at scientists, as those who have as much to say on the world’s security, as politicians and generals. Today, scientists conduct researches that may have catastrophic effects to the world if research results were somehow misused. What should we do then? Above all we should talk about the problem of dual use globally, so that it strengthens the awareness of scientists, politicians, and society. We must learn to identify risks and to take actions against them. The problem of dual use imposes one more significant question. How to maintain harmony between the inventors’ autonomy (without which no progress is possible) and the responsibility for their inventions? Much hope is pinned on the ethics, which should not stay behind present technology.
Conference archive
The possibility of the misuse of research results for malevolent purposes poses a real threat to public health and national security. As the discussion on the various aspects of dual use began only recently, the dilemma requires thorough explanation not only to the public, but also to researchers. It is without question that raising the international awareness of this serious problem is the very first step in creating a kind of a road map to cope with it. The Polish Academy of Sciences would like to contribute to the already launched worldwide discussion on dual use by organizing an International Conference: The Advancement of Science and the Dilemma of Dual Use:
Why We Can't Afford to Fail November 9-10, 2007, Warsaw The problem of dual-use research is becoming one of the most important challenges for contemporary research. In the United States, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity was established in March 2006 as a governmental body charged with providing advice to federal departments and agencies as well as with developing a strategy to minimize the risks of this kind of scientific activity.
Leading international and Polish experts, including medical doctors, ethicists, science administrators, and lawyers, will be speakers at the conference. GENERAL INFORMATION
* ORGANIZER Polish Academy of Sciences * CONFERENCE VENUE Presidential Palace 00-071 Warsaw 48/50, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street Poland * SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Prof. A. Górski – Chairman (e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Prof. M. Grabski, Prof. B. L. Smólski, Prof. Z. Szawarski, The Reverend Prof. A. Szostek, Prof. J. Woźnicki, Prof. M. Żylicz * ORGANIZING SECRETARIAT Chancellery of the Polish Academy of Sciences Office of International Relations Palace of Culture and Science Pl. Defilad 1 00 - 901 Warsaw tel. (+48 22) 656 62 64; 620 43 49 fax (+48 22) 620 33 74 Dr. Urszula Wajcen (Director) e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it CONFERENCE LANGUAGE English IMPORTANT ADDRESSES CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT: Chancellery of the Polish Academy of Sciences Office of International Relations Palace of Culture and Science Pl. Defilad 1 00 - 901 Warsaw by fax: (+48 22) 620 33 74 or by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it CONFERENCE SITE: Presidential Palace 00-071 Warsaw 48/50, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street Poland CONFERENCE DATES: 9-10 November, 2007 DISCLAIMER The Organizers reserve the right to alter or cancel, without prior notice, any of the arrangements, timetables, plans or other items relating directly or indirectly to Conference, for any reasons beyond their reasonable control. Presentations
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