Voice of the Shuttle

I remember first using the Voice back in the late 1990s. It was then one of the major portals for humanities (and social science really) resources. I'm now a little lost with academic portals. I don't use SOSIG any more. In fact, I don't use much else other than Google. I wonder how many others are like me. Can we come up with a new academic gateway in the web 2.0 era. I remember when GetCited started up - I still receive the occasional email from them. But, yet again, I don't use them. Is there any research out there that evaluates these academic tools. They are often very expensive to put together, but I doubt they are used very much. This week, a debate on Philos-L concerned the ranking of journals. It seems to me that there might also be an opportunity to develop a ranking system using some form of 2.0 platform, the advantage being the complimentary quantitative and qualitative measures. Anybody want to write a proposal on this? More to the point, where is the Voice? Google hasn't found much or the link needs fixing.

Ah, just before concluding this I had a look at SOSIG, which, coincidentally, has some breaking news.  No mention of RSS though!

Pervasive and Locative Arts Network (PLAN)

PLAN

an interesting new project which will:

 

"bring together practicing artists, technology developers and ethnographers with the aim of advancing interdisciplinary understanding and building consortia for future collaborative projects. It will be of relevance to people working in the arts, games, education, tourism, heritage, science and engineering.

The network will stage three major gatherings. Each gathering will have a distinct form and focus: an initial workshop to launch the network and assess the state of the art; a technology summer camp for artists and technologists, including hands-on prototyping sessions using the facilities at Nottingham's Mixed reality Laboratory; and a major public conference and participatory exhibition as a central component of the Futuresonic 2006 festival in Manchester; as well as a supporting web site and other resources."

Ledoux, Utopia, the City (25-27 October, 2006)

(english follows) APPEL A COMMUNICATION

LEDOUX, L’UTOPIE, LA VILLE

Colloque international et interdisciplinaire

Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans, France

25, 26, 27 octobre 2006

A l’occasion du bicentenaire de la mort de Claude Nicolas Ledoux, la MSH C. N. Ledoux de Franche-Comté organise, en partenariat avec leConseil général du Doubs, un colloque international etinterdisciplinaire qui aura lieu à la Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans les 25, 26 et 27 octobre 2006. Claude Nicolas Ledoux est une figure centrale de la pensée moderne, en ce qu’il est le premier à avoir véritablement fait le lien entredeux traditions intellectuelles majeures, celle de l’architecture etcelle de l’utopie. Pour commémorer ce génie, la MSH propose un colloque de trois jours axé sur cinq themes (la description suit). Les propositions de communication doivent parvenir à la MSH Ledoux avant le 10 mars 2006. Elles devront obligatoirement comporter untexte de 20 à 30 lignes, un titre provisoire et les coordonnées del’auteur (titres, fonctions, discipline, champ de recherche, publications récentes, coordonnées complètes). Les communications retenues seront connues le 10 avril 2006.

Le texte définitif de la communication sera à rendre pour le 15 septembre 2006. Pour tout contact s’adresser à Isabelle Mouret :

isabelle.mouret@msh.univ-fcomte.fr

téléphone (33) 3 81 66 51 51

télécopie : (33) 3 81 66 51 58

http://msh.univ-fcomte.fr

CALL FOR PAPERS

LEDOUX, UTOPIA, THE CITY

International interdisciplinary conference

Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, France

25, 26, 27 October 2006

On the occasion of the bicentenary of the death of Claude Nicolas Ledoux, the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme C. N. Ledoux of Franche-Comté, in partnership with the General Council of the Doubs, isorganizing an international interdisciplinary conference which will take place at the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans on October the 25,26,and 27, 2006.

Claude Nicolas Ledoux is a central figure in modern thought. He was the first to have truly established the link between two majorintellectual traditions, architecture and Utopianism. To commemoratehis genius, the MSH proposes a three day conference centering on five main themes (described below). Abstracts (French or English) must be submitted by March 10, 2006. They should be 20-30 lines long and include a provisional title andthe author’s details (titles, functions, discipline, field ofresearch, recent publications, full address and contact details).

The papers selected will be announced on April 10, 2006.

The final version of selected texts will be due by September 15, 2006.

For all enquiries, please contact :

  isabelle.mouret@msh.univ-fcomte.fr

phone : (33) 3 81 66 51 51

fax : (33) 3 81 66 51 58.

http:// msh.univ-fcomte.fr

THEMES

1. Résonances locales de l’utopie

La Franche-Comté, et dans une moindre mesure les régions voisines de Bourgogne et du canton de Vaud, sont des terres de prédilection del’utopie : autour de Ledoux, il faut citer les noms de Fourier(Besançon), Considérant (Salins), Proudhon (Besançon), Cabet (Dijon), Le Corbusier (La Chaux-de-Fonds), ainsi que des lieux où ont ététentées des utopies, construites des habitations d’avant-garde,réalisées des citésjardins : Arc-et-Senans, Citeaux où un phalanstère a été créé pendant quelque temps, la cité de Tavaux avec Solvay, etc.

2. The ideal city in the age of reason

At the end of the XVIIIth. century, the "architects of reason" developed the idea that by arranging dwellings differently, andassociating with them new activities, it is possible to regeneratehumanity. From this principle derive ideal city projects, whose geometrical forms hesitated between squares and circles, but whichled to industrial settlements of which the most famous - la Granja,San Leucio and Arc-et-Senans – revolutionized industrial living and working conditions. 3. L’oeuvre de Ledoux

Pourquoi Ledoux écrit-il un traité L’Architecture et non pas un récit utopique comme l’avait fait Thomas More près de trois siècles plustôt ? Le colloque suggérera que Ledoux pensait dépasser l’utopie enfondant une « pensée durable » (Ledoux), rassemblant les héritages et les recomposant dans une forme géniale. La ville idéale qu’il proposedépasse ainsi, au moins dans son projet, le caractère anecdotique debien des utopies. Son oeuvre sera mise en regard avec les autrescités idéales. Il serait cependant inexact de considérer Ledoux sous l’angle uniquede l’utopie. Il est architecte, mêlé à la vie de son temps,constructeur de projets aussi divers que des ponts, des églises, un théâtre, des prisons, des hôtels particuliers, des palais, desvillages de colonisation rurale et, bien entendu, une saline à Arc-et-Senans.

4. Utopia Realised

Also signalled are the attempts, seldom successful, but all edifying, which have been made, in the modern era, to make Utopias reality.Amerindian Réductions, Phalansteries, Icaries in Europe and NorthAmerica, the Familistère of Guise, New Lanark, garden cities, Battaville, the new towns of visionary town-planners…... there is along list of such attempts to renew mankind by creating a harmoniouscommunity, sometimes breaking away from the industrialized and urbanized world, sometimes on the contrary, by reshaping therelationship between the city and industry. The analysis of these experiments will also offer the opportunity to consider the relationship of these practical examples to the texts, and about thecirculation of such models as an aid to understanding the ways inwhich the project rippled out from Europe over almost every continent.

5. Anthropologie historique et prospective de l’utopie

Le colloque suggérera enfin une idée majeure : le legs de l’utopie est à chercher dans son rôle dans la formation de l’espace-tempsmoderne, dont tout notre présent est tissé. C’est là qu’il fautchercher sa véritable réalisation. La diffusion du schema anthropologique de l’utopie est au centre de composantes aussifondamentales que la science en général, la géographie, l’histoire,l’aménagement du territoire, et, plus globalement la pensée de projet qui conçoit et forme le monde.

COMITE D’ORGANISATION / STEERING COMMITTEE :

T. Bouchet (MCF, Université de Bourgogne), A. Colombo (Professeur, Université de Franche-Comté), G. Chouquer (Dir. de recherches, UMR 7041), J.-C. Daumas (Professeur, Université de Franche-Comté, directeur adjoint de la MSH Ledoux), G. Dorel-Ferré (Chercheur associée, CNAM), F. Moret (MCF, Marne la Vallée), I. Mouret (Secrétaire générale de la MSH Ledoux), M. Riot-Sarcey (Professeur, Paris 8).

Sandra Lapointe

Chair, Scientific committee, MSH Claude Ledoux

Assistant Professor Department of Philosophy Kansas State University 201 Dickens Hall Manhattan, KS, 66506 tel: 785 532 0356 fax: 785 532 3522 lapointe [AT] ksu.edu

Designing Human Life

DESIGNING HUMAN LIFE  30th MARCH  2006. Imperial College. Health Care Ethics Forum.   In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, humans are created and incubated to term in laboratories. Human Life is programmed and sanitised. To-day, rapid developments in the treatment of human infertility, in molecular biology, in diagnostic technology and in genetics have alleviated suffering but also opened the door to genetic manipulation and engineering in humans. Gender selection is now possible. Human reproductive cloning is a distinct possibility. Genetic testing and prenatal screening allow for greater reproductive choice but also create problems with confidentiality, relationships and genetic discrimination. Stem cell research offers hope that new therapies will become available. Yet alongside the potential benefits, these scientific developments create new and perplexing challenges and raise a number of disturbing scenarios. The moral status of the human embryo remains a key issue. Does possible always mean permissible?  

Aims and objectives   To identify some of the ethical, social and legal issues that arise as a consequence of current and foreseeable scientific developments in this domain To increase understanding of this complex area and the science underpinning the developments. To explore the impact on individuals, families, societies and human values. To evaluate the impact on healthcare policy and practice. To encourage multiple perspectives and rational, informed debate. To consider how the management of these developments can be achieved on a morally sound and responsible basis.  

Who should attend  

The conference is intended for medical, nursing and allied professionals, philosophers, ethicists, scientists, lawyers, teachers, students, administrators and all individuals who wish to explore and debate the key issues in this complex and controversial area of bioethics.  

 

 

FINAL PROGRAMME  

Chair: Professor Raanan Gillon  

9 – 9.30am     Registration   9.30 – 9.40     Introduction and housekeeping. Paquita de Zulueta and Mervyn Jones.   9.40 – 10.20    Ethics of Prenatal testing. Dr Clare Williams   10.20 – 11       Ethics of genetic testing and screening. Professor Mike Parker   11 -11.30        Coffee break   11.30 –12.10   Legal and ethical issues in preimplantation genetic diagnosis.   Dr Rosamund Scott   12.10 – 12.50   Panel/audience discussion   12.50 – 14        LUNCH   14 – 14.40        Human enhancement – Professor Julian Savulescu   14.40 – 15.20   Sex selection – Dr Piers Benn   15.20 – 15.40    Coffee break   15.40 – 16.20    'Embryonic Stem Cells; Their Therapeutic Potentials & Ethical Dilemmas'.  Dr S H Cedar                        16.20– 16.50     Panel/audience discussion. Evaluation   16.50 – 17.00    Chairman's conclusion.   17.00                 End of conference.  

Cost: £125 early booking fee before 28th Feb  0r      £150 after 28th Feb. For conference applications and enquiries, contact Bang Nong at the Centre for professional development, Imperial College.  

South Park and Philosophy

Call for AbstractsSouth Park and Philosophy   Please circulate and post widely. Apologies for Cross-posting.   Robert Arp, Editor Arpr@southwestmsu.edu William Irwin, General Editor wtirwin@kings.edu The Blackwell Philosophy and Popular Culture Series     To propose ideas for future volumes in the Blackwell series please contact William Irwin, wtirwin@kings.edu <mailto:wtirwin@kings.edu> .

    Abstracts and subsequent essays should be philosophically substantial but accessible, written to engage the intelligent lay reader. Contributors of accepted essays will receive an honorarium.   Possible themes and topics might include, but are not limited to, the following: Stan's grandpa, Kenny's feeding tube, and the ethics of life and death; Christopher Reeve and Stem Cell Research; Elephants, pigs, and cloning; Harbucks, Something Wal-Mart This Way Comes, and the goods and bads of corporations; Cartman And Hobbesian Egoism; Skuzzlebut and the ethics of hunting and/or gun control; Big Gay Al, Mr. Garrison, and gay rights; Timmy and Disability; Drugs are bad, Mmkay? Towelie, Ritalin, and the ethics of drug-usage; The Chewbacca defense, stinky britches, and legal ethics; Existential angst: Why we look forward to Kenny's death every episode; Camus And The Pointlessness Of SP; Our world and Heaven/Hell, Kenny's body and Kenny's soul: Cartesian dualism or metaphysical materialism in SP; Pissant white-bread towns and racism in SP; The Passion of the Jew and the use and abuse of free speech in SP; Plato's Virtue Ethics And The Parent As Role Model In SP; over-the-top stereotypes and moral messages in SP; Jesus, Santa Claus, and Atheism; Chef and Scientology; The place of SP in a pluralistic society; Aristotelian Versus Machiavellian Virtue And Vice In SP.   Contributor guidelines:   1. Abstract of paper (100-500 words). 2. CV or resume for each author and co-author. 3. Submission deadline for abstracts:  May 1, 2006 4. Submission deadline for first drafts of accepted papers (tentative):  July 3, 2006 5. Submission deadline for final papers September 5, 2006. 6. Abstracts should be submitted by e-mail, with or without Word attachment.   Send by e-mail to: Robert Arp Arpr@southwestmsu.edu  

International Journal of Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law

CALL FOR PAPERS From Prof. Jagat Pal Head, Department of Philosophy, NEHU, Shillong

We are planning to bring out the first issue of  International Journal of Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law in the month of October,2006. Thisjournal is devoted to the publication of original papers of high standardin the area of Jurisprudence, philosophy of Law and also new emerging areas in Law.

You may submit your Papers (with abstracts), Book Reviews and shortDiscussions in the above said areas before 31st August, 2006.

Thanking you,

      ( Prof. Jagat  Pal )             Chief Editor.           Department of Philosophy              

NEHU, Shillong-22   E.Mail: jagat-pal1949 [AT] rediffimail.com.

The Cambridge Robot Project

The Cambridge Robot Projecthttp://people.csail.mit.edu/kathleen/robotproject.htm

THEATRE, FILM, EXHIBITION, DISCUSSION       15TH TO 28TH MAY 2006 ALL EVENTS TO BE HELD AT MICHAELHOUSE, TRINITY STREET, CAMBRIDGE

The Cambridge Robot Project is a non-profit student initiative and an event to raise issues of technology and human life by using theatre, photography and film.The Cambridge Robot Project will mark the 85th anniversary of the invention of the robot by performing the play that brought us the first robots, R.U.R (Rossum's Universal Robots) as well as examining what it means to behuman in an age of technology.

  THE CAMBRIDGE ROBOT PROJECT IS A PUBLIC EVENT AND ALL ARE WELCOME

Speakers include:

Dr Katy Price, Department of English, Communication, Film & Media, Anglia Ruskin University

Dr Alan Blackwell, The Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge

Dr Murray Shanahan, Department of Computing, Imperial College London

William Newman, Microsoft Research, Cambridge

Peter Jaeckel, Robotics Laboratory, University of West of England

Dr Joanna Bryson, Department of Cognitive Science, University of Bath

Dr Dawn Heather, Associates Consultancy Services

Dr Mark Witkowski, Department of Computing, Imperial College London

Professor Steve Torrance, Informatics, University of Sussex

Professor Owen Holland, Department of Computer Science, University of Essex

Rob Clowes, Department of Cognitive Science, University of Sussex

The Cambridge Robot Project Is Produced By Kathleen Richardson, Department of Social Anthropology, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RF (44) 01223 334402

The Cambridge Robot Project http://people.csail.mit.edu/kathleen/robotproject.htm

Visual Sociology conference (27 May, 2006)

BSA Visual Sociology 1st Annual Conference: 27th May 2006 www.visualsociology.org.uk

Dear Colleagues,

The committee of the BSA Visual Sociology Study Group would like to invite  you to the Launch Conference being held on 27th May 2006 at the University of Warwick (UK).

The conference covers a wide range of interests and topics ranging from res=earch in the hospital context to images on sacred identity. A full list of the day's events can be found on the CONFERENCE section of our newwebsite: www.visualsociology.org.uk

This an exciting opportunity to meet other academics and researchers from a number of interest areas, all involved in the area of Visual Methods, working within the UK. Places are limited, so if you would like to attend please fill out the online application on the website.

Arrivals and registration for the event will be between 10:00-10:30, with attendance costing £12 for Non-BSA members, £10 for BSA members and £6 for student or retired.

A map of the University of Warwick campus can be found at the followingaddress: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/maps/central, the confere=nce will be held in the Humanities Building (24). The registration will take place in the reception of the building.

If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact the convenor of the group, marc Bush, at M.L.Bush@warwick.ac.uk.We look forward to seeing you on the dayRegards, The Committee

BSA Visual Sociology May Conference 2006 Register at http://www.visualsociology.org.uk

Modernisation, Modernity and the Media in China (15-16 June, 2006)

 

'Modernisation, Modernity and the Media in China' June 15th 16th , 2006

Venue: China Media Centre, University of Westminster

The China Media Centre(CMC) at University of Westminster invites proposals for papers and panel sessions for its 2006 conference on the theme of "Modernisation, Modernity and the Media in China".

This conference aims to tackle two major aspects of theoretical and practical concern in research on China and its media. First, it is concerned with the transformation of Chinese media as embedded in the 'modernisation' process of China. The second aspect is about the formulation and mediation of 'modernity' in Chinese media and intellectual discourses

China's development since the 1990s has brought the country unprecedented interdependence with the World in all aspects and the deep structural transformation of its society and media. Mediations and reformulations of 'modernity' in the Chinese media, political and intellectual discourses have been especially relevant and closely linked to this process.

In China, Western influence on local discussions of 'modernity' date back to the 19th century. The values of the European Enlightenment, modern science, reason and democracy, were assumed to be the core values of 'modernity' and were internalised by Chinese intellectuals to challenge the dominance of traditional Confucian thought.

In last two decades, the Western origins of the sprawling concept of 'modernity'- the nation-state, democracy, capitalist economy; industrialisation; urbanisation, emphasis on rationality, progress and individualism, and construction of cultural and social identities have experienced sharp criticisms from intellectuals in both the West and China. Both groups question the universality and superiority of Western thought, criticise the linear view of history implicit in Western 'modernity', and call for a rethinking of the search for modernity in transitional societies.

The media presents a dual role in this debate. On the one hand, the media articulates the public opinions on 'modernity' and its relationship with the Chinese nation and tradition. It disseminates the ideas what the 'modern' individual, organisation, culture, society and state are supposed to be. It mediates the public imaginations of 'modernity' through its texts, images and narratives. On the other hand, the media, as a social institution, embodies the cultural-political-economic conditions in the society and the characteristics of the societal modernisation process. These characteristics inform in the practices, structures and changes of the media and the messages it propagates

What kind(s) of modernit(ies) do Chinese media and society consume, create and perform today? How and why do these appropriations, formulations and mediations emerge ? Why do they assume the patterns which they do?

Amongst other prominent speakers, which will provide an insight analysis on a variety of issues from insiders' point of views, are

 

Professor Lin Min (University of Waikato, New Zealand)

the primary author of ' The Search of Modernity: Chinese Intellectuals and Cultural Discourse in the Post-Mao era'(1999) and the sole author of'Certainty as a Social Metaphor: a comparative study of the idea of certainty in the Western and Chinese philosophical tradition';

 

Professor Hu Zhengrong (Director of the National Center for Radio & TV Studies, Executive Dean of the Graduate School of the Communication University of China)

Professor Hu has published extensively on media policy and institutional transformation in both Chinese and English and served as policy advisor for various organisations. 

Dr. Zhang Zi (Deputy Director of the Centre for Development and Reform, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), Beijing) SARFT is the highest government body in China responsible for electronic media's regulation and broadcasting policy establishment. Dr. Zhang will give a presentation on the Chinese government's broadcasting regulation and policy.

Mr. Ou Nianzhong (Vice-President of the Southern Media Group, Guangdong)

Guangdong has China's most liberalised and internationalised TV market. The Southern Media Group is the biggest media group in the region. Mr. Ou will analyses the impacts of the landing of the transnational TV channels on the local TV market and how the local Guangdong media competes with the transnational channels.

For any enquiries, please contact the conference coordinator Ms. Yik Chan Chin via email: chiny@wmin.ac.uk, or phone: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext. 4882, or fax: +44 (0)20 7911 5943

Technology and the Good Life?

Higgs, E., A. Light, et al., Eds. (2000). Technology and the Good Life? Chicago, University of Chicago Press.    Last week, I read again the edited volume by Eric Higgs, Andrew Light and David Strong. The edition concludes with a lovely piece by Albert Borgmann on the development of philosophy of technology over the last 40 years. It is a very inspiring text, full of frustrations with how the discipline has developed, but a great deal of optimism over its future. 

Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics

Carl Mitcham's new encyclopedia for Macmillan was published late last year. I was asked to write a submission on 'Sport Technology'. Miah, A. (2005) Sport Technology, in Mitcham, C. The Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics (Macmillan).

I'm still waiting for my library to receive its order of this collection. In the mean time, if anyone knows the page numbers of my entries, please let me know!

CULTSTUD-L

has moved! now I know why I haven't received any emails in some time. The new space is here.

Ethical Communicators (4 July, 2006)

Ethical Communicators: inaugural conference of the Institute of Communication Ethics AU/NZ, 1.30 - 6pm 4 July, 2006, Napier Building, University of Adelaide, Australia

Hosts: Institute of Communication Ethics (ICE), with help from the Australia New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA)Please note: this cfp updates the first one on: website for registration, registration fee, keynote speaker list, instructions on submittingabstracts.

To launch the Australia-New Zealand branch of the Institute of CommunicationEthics, a one-day conference will be held immediately before the 2006 ANZCAannual meeting with the theme, Ethical Communicators. Expressions ofinterest and abstracts are invited now from scholars and practitioners onthe ethical dimensions of communication.

Deadline for abstracts (300 words): May 30, 2006. Abstracts will be peer-reviewed.

Papers are particularly invited which explore the following areas inrelation to communication practices and professions:

  • ethical best practice
  • ethical codes
  • ethical problems in practice
  • discourse ethics
  • public policy implications

As an interdisciplinary group, ICE invites contributions from a wide range of areas, including applied ethics, communication, computing, culturalstudies, discourse studies, education, information technology, journalism,law, management communication, marketing, philosophy, psychology, public relations and sociology.Keynote speakers are:

Prof Simon Rogerson, Director, Centre for Computing and SocialResponsibility, De Montfort University, UK

Prof John Weckert, Professor, School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University

Dr Edward Spence, Senior Lecturer, School of Communication, Charles SturtUniversity The format will be informal and will emphasise discussion. To that end, aside from the keynotes, presenters will be asked to talk briefly (10minutes) to their papers. Papers will be made available.

Registration: AU$55 ($25 for students), free for members (including those who join at the event).

Conference website: http://www.communication-ethics.org (going live shortly) Please send abstracts or requests for further information on bookings to Jule du Varrens – jule@unwired.com.au – Tel +61(0) 2 95277046

Please also fee free to contact me on donald.matheson@canterbury.ac.nz.

See you there,

Donald Matheson

-- Dr Donald Matheson Senior Lecturer Programme in Mass Communication School of Political Science and Communication University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha Private Bag 4800 Christchurch 8020 New Zealand tel: +63 3 366 7001 ext 7888 fax: +64 3 364 2414

check out - Media Discourses (Open UP 2005) <http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/033521469X.html>

Politics and Bioethics: The future of bioethics in a divided democracy (13-14 July, 2006)

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: POLITICS AND BIOETHICS http://politics.bioethics.net

REGISTRATION AND SUBMISSION OF PAPERS AND PANELS NOW OPEN: "Politics and Bioethics: The future of bioethics in a divided democracy" is the name of a very special, very important summer conference of the American Society for Bioethics and the Humanities, in Albany, New York on July 13th and 14th. Is bioethics being torn apart by political strife? Will it be split into "academics" and "lobbyists"? Will there be two fields of bioethics, each with its own journals, centers, even degree programs? This is the discipline's attempt to answer these and other questions, and you are invited - urged - to attend and add your voice. Leaders from the left and from the right will speak, led with a keynote by Edmund Pellegrino: Arthur Caplan, Nigel Cameron, Eric Cohen, Jeffrey Kahn, Glenn McGee, David Magnus, bestselling science writer Chris Mooney, Jonathan Moreno, John Robertson, Wesley Smith, Bonnie Steinbock, Paul Root Wolpe, Laurie Zoloth and others. On the banks of the Hudson, New York's capital city is easy to reach and beautiful in the summer, and the conference will allow participants to get home for the weekend or stay and enjoy the jazz festival, the mountains and Saratoga.

Politics and Bioethics is sponsored by Alden March Bioethics Institute, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Penn Center for Bioethics, University of Virginia Center for Bioethics, Albany Law School, Rockefeller Institute of Government, and The American Journal of Bioethics. Continuing education credits will be available from Albany Medical College.

Submit your registration and/or proposals to http://politics.bioethics.net

"Official" 2010 Olympics

A website modelled on the official Vancouver 2010 website, aiming to raise critical questions about the discussions surrounding the VANOC Games. Can you spot the differences?

Françoise Baylis and Beckie Scott to Join CCES Board of Directors

(Ottawa, Ontario – April 12, 2006) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors. Joining the team of eminent Canadians who guide the work of the organization are Dr. Françoise Baylis, one of Canada’s most respected authorities on bioethics, and Ms. Beckie Scott, an Olympic medallist in cross-country skiing.http://www.cces.ca/pdfs/CCES-MR-BaylisScott-E.pdf

Humanistic Olympics Studies Center

On July 9-10 this year, the Humanistic Olympics Studies Center in Beijing hosts its 4th meeting. The Beijing Games is particularly interesting for my own research as it has signalled that it will be a 'Hi-Tech Olympics'. Professor Jin Yuanpu from Renmin university of China recently submitted a paper for the programme of the University of East London meeting on the Olympics, which details some of these points. The manuscript of this paper presents an advanced thesis on the various uses of technology in sport, its challenges and potentials.  The theme for this year's meeting is cities and this will be particularly interesting for London 2012, which just this week signed agreements with Beijing to promote exchange and collaboration. As part of this, there is also interesting news for us academics. Quoting from the BOCOG site press release:

 "Livingstone will promote London as a tourist destination and academic center during his three-day visit to China"

International Conference on Ethics and Social Science Research in Anti-Doping

At the end of this week, the Cyprus Conference takes place, which is supported by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It describes itself as: "the first ever meeting of professionals and researchers interested in anti-doping research in the social and behavioural sciences and its applications in anti-doping policy making and doping prevention programs."

and includes a number of notables such as Barrie Houlihan and Bartha Maria Knoppers, thus further connecting bioethics and sport.

The trouble with this issue is that, if one takes even a dominant approach to the doping issue (that there are good reasons to seek its removal from sport), then there is so much work that should be done to link medical ethics and sport ethics. Perhaps it is more worthwhile to struggle for progress in that domain, rather than to align oneself with the dismantling of both dimensions by arguing for enhancement. Equally, one cannot but be drawn to the advancements in transhumanism, which seem to be establishing greater credibility day by day.