Deliberating Promissory Technologies

On May 22, 2018, the UC Davis Bioethics Program and the UC Davis Ethics Commons presented a symposium on promissory biotechnologies – technologies based on cutting edge science and accompanied by hype and hope.  Discussion focused on technologies that are both morally provocative and, because of their innovative nature, subject to regulatory uncertainty.  Each panel featured a particular technology – chimeric in vitroembryos, brain organoids, transgenic animals – as case studies.  Each panel put experts from different disciplines in direct conversation with each other.  Science historian Ben Hurlbut, Arizona State University, gave a layered, probing keynote. Philosopher Sharyn Clough, Oregon State University, provided a pointed, humorous, and personal plenary address.