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UNESCO Asia-Pacific Conference on Bioethics Education

26-28 July 2006, Seoul, Korea

Organized by UNESCO Bangkok, Korean National Commission for UNESCO, Ewha Womans University

 

Call for Papers

 (Download the conclusions as the Action plan, pdf file, 70kb)

1. Background

 

The current revolution in science and technology has led to the concern that unbridled scientific progress is not always ethically acceptable. Reflecting this concern, UNESCO established the International Bioethics Committee (IBC) and World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) in 1993 and 1997 respectively to reflect on the ethics of development in science and technology, and to set agendas on these issues.

 

In 2005, UNESCO General Conference adopted the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, which set out principles to guide States in the formulation of a bioethics instrument that embodies respect for human dignity and human rights. In particular, the Declaration states clearly that States should endeavor to foster bioethics education and training at all levels, as well as to encourage information and knowledge dissemination programmes about bioethics to achieve a better understanding of the ethical implications of scientific and technological development, especially for young people. This repeats calls made in the 1997 Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights.

 

However, many Asian countries, including Korea, are developing biotechnology with little attention upon ethical issues. In addition, there may be cultural differences between Asian, Pacific and European countries in bioethics, and it is thus could be necessary to develop bioethics education materials for Asian and Pacific countries.

 

The Korean National Commission for UNESCO in conjunction with UNESCO Bangkok Regional Office will organize this conference and workshop for the promotion of bioethics education, including environmental ethics. This workshop will provide an opportunity to share good practice in bioethics education and will contribute to promoting understanding of current issues in bioethics, particularly in an Asian and Pacific context. It will also be a meeting of the International Bioethics Education Network of UNESCO Bangkok, with chances for multilingual dialogues between practitioners and educators.

 

2. Objectives

  • To share experiences and disseminate examples of good practice in bioethics education
  • To explore ways to promote bioethics education
  • To improve and gather teaching materials for use in the region
  • To welcome new experts to the International Bioethics Education Network

 

3. Participants

It is intended to limit the number of participants below 100 people (including more than 40 international participants). Experts, teachers and policy makers on bioethics in the Asia-Pacific region are invited to the workshop. In particular:

 

  • Professional teacher trainers
  • Educators already teaching bioethics/environmental ethics (At all levels including tertiary, secondary and middle school)
  • Educators with interest in the subject (potential bioethics teachers/teacher trainers)
  • Policy makers
  • Journalists and science communicators

 

On the morning of the second and third day, the workshop will be divided in 4 groups, and will focus on bioethics education at all levels as shown below. In each group there are several facilitators to help and guide the discussion.

 

  • Bioethics Education in Schools
  • Bioethics Education for the General Public or Mass Media
  • Bioethics Education for Scientists and Graduate School
  • Bioethics Education for the Students in Health Sciences

 

On the afternoon of the second and third day the conference will be in plenary session. There will be ample discusison time.

 

4. Provisional Programme

Papers for each session will be listed in the second circular, after the responses to this initial call for papers.

 

Wednesday, 26 July  Plenary Session


09.30 - 10.30      Opening Session

 

        • Self-introduction of Participants
        • Opening address by Dr. Samuel Lee,
          Secretary-General,
          Korean National Commission for UNESCO
        • Welcoming address by rep. Ewha Womans University
        • Introduction to the Goals of the Workshop by
          Dr. Darryl Macer, Regional Advisor in Social and Human Sciences for Asia and the Pacific,
          UNESCO Bangkok Office

 

10.30 - 12.00      Goals and Methods of Bioethics Education - 1

 

Topics to include Goals of Bioethics Education to Respect Life, Goals of Bioethics Education to International Understanding, Goals of Bioethics Education to Discuss Benefits and Risks of Science and Technology

 

12.00 - 13.30      Lunch

 

13.30 - 16.00      Goals and Methods of Bioethics Education - 2

 

Topics to include Goals of Bioethics Education for Student/Citizen Awakening, Cultural Diversity and Bioethics Education, Sustainable Development and Bioethics Education, Methodology of Bioethics Education

 

16.00 - 16.30      Break

 

16.30 - 18.00      Updates from Pilot Trials of Bioethics Education

 

Presenters from Courses and Pilot Institutions (at all levels in education) from different countries in the region to present updates and map the situation in their institutions/ countries

 

18.30 – 20.00      Welcoming Dinner

 

Thursday, 27 July


9:00-12:00          Group Workshops (part 1)

 

Training sessions in break-out groups with a participatory focus and the concept of learning while doing. The focus on the following themes:

  • Bioethics Education in Schools (Languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, English)
  • Bioethics Education for the General Public or Mass Media
  • Bioethics Education for Scientists and Graduate School
  • Bioethics Education for the Students in Health Sciences

 

09.00 - 09.30      Self-introductions (Getting to Know the Needs of Each Other) and Introductory lectures

 

09.30 – 10.30      Examples of Teaching Methodology and Materials

 

10:30-12:00        Bioethics Evaluation Methodology and Experiences in the Region

        • how to develop the methodology?
        • how to advance the texts and materials?
        • how to evaluate the achievement?
        • how to get the necessary educational resources?
        • how to cooperate ?

 

12.00 - 13.00      Lunch

 

Plenary

 

13.00 - 13.30      Reports from rapporteurs of all small groups to the plenary

 

13.30 - 18.00      Bioethics Education Across Cultures


Topics to include: Goals of Bioethics Education to Discuss Benefits and Risks of Science and Technology, exploring Dr. Hwang’s Case in Korea, Sustainable Development and Bioethics Education, Further country reports and experiences, in different cases; submitted papers will be screened.

 

Friday, 28 July   

 

9:00-12:00       Group Workshops (Part 2)

 

Training sessions in the same break-out groups on the themes:

  • Bioethics Education in Schools (Languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, English)
  • Bioethics Education for the General Public or Mass Media
  • Bioethics Education for Scientists and Graduate School
  • Bioethics Education for the Students in Health Sciences

 

Preparation of model activities and evaluation work as a result of dialogue and sharing in the groups

 

12:00-13:00        Lunch

 

Plenary

 

13.00 - 14.00      Reports of model activities from participants of all small groups to the plenary (can include drama, presentations, feedback and improvement)

 

14:00-15:00        Plan of Action for Regional Networking in Bioethics Education

 

15:00-15;30        Tea break

 

15:00-17:00        Towards Better Bioethics Education and Conclusions

 

5. Working Language

The workshop will be conducted in English and simultaneous interpretation between English and Korean will be provided on the first day. Additional languages for small group work depend on the needs of participants.

 

6. Call for Papers

Please submit abstracts of 300 words in English (indicating your language preferences) by 30 April 2006 to d.macer @ unescobkk.org

 

7. Free registration

There will be no registration fee. A list of reasonably priced accommodation options is available, from approximately US$30 a night.

 

8. Conveners

Those who wish to participate, please contact:

 

Dr. Darryl Macer

Regional Advisor in Social and Human Sciences for Asia and the Pacific

Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific (RUSHSAP)

UNESCO Bangkok

Tel: 66 2 391 0577 ext. 141

Fax: 66 2 391 0866

E-mail: d.macer(at)unescobkk.org

or Ms. Catherine van Zeeland

E-mail: c.zeeland(at)unescobkk.org

 

Ms. Kim Eun-Young

Programme Specialist, Sciences and Communication Team

Korean National Commission for UNESCO

Tel: 82-2 755 1105 ext. 350

Fax: 82-2 755 7477

E-mail: heidi(at)unesco.or.kr

 

Prof. Ivo Kwon

College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University

Tel/Fax: 82 2 2650 5758

E-mail: kivo(at)ewha.ac.kr