Public perceptions of biotechnology

The Task Group on Public Perceptions of the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) is organising a conference on the public perceptions of biotechnology, to be held in Brussels, Belgium, on 15 and 16 December 1998. The EFB is supported by the EU's research programme in the field of Biotechnology. Issues currently under debate in the biotechnology field include the environmental impact of genetically modified crops, and the consumer acceptability of genetically modified foods. In areas such as medicine, there is also disagreement relating to the patenting of human genome sequences and the ethics of genetic testing.

The aim of the forum is to discuss these issues with the key participants in the on-going biotechnology debates from science, industry, consumer and environmental organisations, government and the media. The forum will seek constructive ways to resolve the issues raised, with input from social scientists who have been tracking public attitudes to the various aspects of biotechnology.
For further information, please contact:

EFB Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology
Dr David Bennett
12 Schuytstraat
2517 Den Haag
The Netherlands
Tel./Fax +31-70-3653857
E-mail: efb.cbc@stm.tudelft.nl
URL: http://www.kluyver.stm.tudelft.nl/efb/home.htm(opens in new window)