People Power for the Third Millenium

New emerging technologies

The pace of development concerning the new emerging technologies shows no sign of slowing down. But how much do the general public really understand of what these technologies entail and what they are capable of achieving? Are the ethics surrounding these technologies developing at the same pace? This series sought to raise the profile of emerging technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence, enhancement and transhumanism and the relationship these technologies have on democracy and the creation of public policy

Held: Tuesday 15th January 2008

Robots & Rights: Will artificial intelligence change the meaning of human rights?

Is the future of robotics fact of fiction? What is artificial intelligence truly capable of producing? What are the challenges to humanity and how could this impinge on our human rights?

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Held: Tuesday 11th March 2008

Transhuman minds: Is cognitive enhancement a human right?

The prospect of being able to enhance human cognition presents a nexus of questions associated with future ambitions, hopes and concerns. Should individuals be allowed the freedom and the right to decide for themselves how best to use enhancement technologies?

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Held: Monday 12th May 2008

Privacy and Surveillance: Monitoring humans and monitoring human rights?

Who should decide what information is collected and monitored? Is privacy a thing of the past? Is the society that George Orwell depicted a model to aspire to or a case study to avoid at all cost? BioCentre invited guests to an assessment of the issues surrounding privacy and surveillance informed by key academics and industry specialists within this field of study.

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Held: Tuesday 14th October 2008

Arts and Technology: The role of the arts in democratic policy making

When it comes to developments in science and technology, public perceptions on these issues are influenced largely by the various sources in the public square including the media and the arts.

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