GOVERNANCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES: THE TRANSFORMATION OF MEDICINE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

An International Interdisciplinary Conference
March 29-31, 2009
University of Edinburgh

SCOPE OF THE CONFERENCE

 As part of its celebration of 5 years of success, SCRIPT-ed is pleased to host an international and interdisciplinary conference focusing on the governance of new and evolving technologies, and the consequences of these technologies for the law and for society more generally.  Examples of such new technologies and practices – which are revolutionising the way we live, learn and interact, the way we deliver healthcare and other public services, the way we conduct business, and so on – include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• enomics and stem cell applications;

• xeno-transplantation;

• synthetic life;

• nanotechnology;

• artificial intelligence;

•  internet and digital information technologies;

• e-commerce and m-commerce;

• Web 2.0 applications and online gaming.

The conference will consider developments in, and governance and social implications of, these and other new technologies and practices within the context of three primary and overlapping streams, namely (1) medicine and healthcare, (2) information and communication technology, (3) and intellectual property.

KEY NOTE SPEAKERS

 Stream 1 ‘Medicine and Healthcare’

Professor Bartha Maria Knoppers

Stream 2 ‘Information and Communication Technology’

Professor Dan Hunter

Stream 3 ‘Intellectual Property’

Dr Francis Gurry

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This conference will be of interest to academics, educators, students, regulators, IT professionals, and other practitioners with an interested in new technologies and their relationship with and impact on society and/or the law.  It will be of particular interest to post-graduate students and early career researchers as a means of networking and generating new ideas and novel approaches to the challenges thrown up by these technologies.

SUBMISSION OF PAPER & POSTER ABSTRACTS

Those interested in presenting either a PAPER or a POSTER at the “Governance of New Technologies” conference should submit an abstract of no more than 250 words to editors.scripted@ed.ac.uk, identifying the conference title in the subject line.  Paper and Poster Presenters will have to register in the usual manner, and we specifically encourage post-graduate students and early career researchers to present.  We are accepting abstracts from now until December 1, 2008.  Authors of those Papers that are accepted for presentation should specify their audio-visual requirements.  Posters are to be no larger than A1 and poster presenters will be expected to attend at their posters periodically during the morning and afternoon tea breaks.  The Presenter of the Poster adjudged to be the best by the Organising Committee will have his or her conference fee refunded.

REGISTRATION

Attendance at the “Governance of New Technologies” conference is £25 for STUDENTS and £50 for NON-STUDENTS. Registration opens in 2008.  The Conference Fee covers the Conference Welcome Reception (March 29, 2009), the Conference Dinner and Ceilidh (March 30, 2009), Conference Lunches (March 30-31), and refreshments during the various tea/coffee breaks (March 30-31).