The themes of the Scientific Sessions

The Scienctific Programme is built upon thematic sessions and plenary lectures. The following exciting themes are represented in the Scientific Programme:

Ageing: the Demographic Challenge
Why are there fewer babies in Europe today? With increasing numbers of old people spending more time in retirement, how can society foot the bill? Will pensioners have to return to compete in the labour market? Can immigration solve this problem? Will a significant part of the workforce remain permanently excluded from the labour market? Will Europe, like previous high cultures, fall back in the global competition?

Climate and Environmental Change
Do we need to refine our thinking about climate change? The concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are rising in the atmosphere. Is this an inevitable consequence of the increasing population? The effects on climate, water circulation and extreme weather events are a subject of broad debate. There may be other, long-term causes of climate change. What do we know for sure? What is likely to happen? What is still speculation? What should politicians do?

Communicating Science
Most people admit that they have lost track of scientific progress and its potential impacts on economy, society and culture. Surveys reveal a growing distrust in the objectivity of and mechanisms for ensuring the impartiality of scientific advice. Along with this unease goes a decrease in the number of young people choosing scientific or technological careers. What is the role of communication in bridging the gap between science and the rest of society? What are the concerns of people with respect to scientific discoveries and technological applications? How can one address these concerns? What is the most appropriate way to convey complexity, and appreciate the degree of uncertainty attached to scientific results? What is the role of science journalism in facilitating the exchange? What types of public involvement and participation should be used to bring public concerns closer to science-based decision making?

Dealing with Risk
Population growth, large-scale technological and economic activities, increased consumption and radical cultural transformation processes all over the world have altered perceptions of risk and generated new hazards. Life expectancy continues to rise in most European countries; there is a discomforting increase in the perception of threats to human life, ecosystems and property. One indicator for this increase is the exponential growth of insurance pay-offs for natural disaster relief. How can we assess complex diffuse and interrelated risks? How can we manage them in a way that overall resilience is improved? How can we communicate about Risk so that people are better informed about the potential side-effects of their choices and preferences?

Emerging Technologies
How much of science fiction will become fact? Emerging fields open new possibilities and horizons. Topics might include: pervasive computing, imaging techniques and application integration, quantum computing and cryptography, biotechnology and bio-engineering, bio-electronics, neuroinformatics and the fabrication of human organs. What are the societal impacts of these and other emerging technologies?

Energy
We all depend on energy, but does this dependence limit human development? Can we foresee new forms of energy generation? How should we balance fossil fuels against nuclear power? What factors should be included in the cost–benefit analysis? What do existing data show as to the potential and consequences of various forms of renewable energy? Should there be a Europe-wide approach to policy in this area?

Evolution of Life
How many times has life evolved? Could it have happened in another way? Can we reconcile the timescales of palaeontology and molecular biology? Are carbon-based life forms the only possibility? How are complex life forms built with comparatively few genes? Why does evolution happen faster than Darwin thought? How will better understanding of these processes affect our political response to genetic change in ourselves, in animals and in plants?

Health
What is the role of the new biology in health care? What factors make some people nervous about using stem cells or about gene therapy? Why can't we raise the level of debate in this difficult area? Who should lead the public debate about what proteomics might offer? How will the public respond in cases where new drugs may only benefit an identifiable sub-set of the population? What steps do we need to take to evaluate health gains in an ageing population? Would you accept a GM kidney, or some "stem-cell grown" new myocardium? If not, why not?

Human Brain
The relationship between brain and behaviour is most evident in the case of brain diseases. New technologies allow us to visualise these relationships and analyse their underlying chemistry in animals and humans. What is the neural basis of cognitive processes, such as memory, language, music, perception, executive functions? What is the neural basis of emotion, addiction, depression and schizophrenia? Are there gender differences in the neural basis of cognition and emotion?

Humanity and Space
Space exploration, the position of man in the universe and the origin of the cosmos fascinate all of us. What are the philosophical implications? Modern astronomy and particle physics illuminate the structure and evolution of the universe. The Big Bang, the Big Crunch and questions on the nature of time are at the heart of modern physics and cosmology. High energy physics and astrophysics have come together. What drives our thinking on the unification of forces, the quest for the Higgs Boson, etc.? How do we justify the high financial or human costs involved in this research?

Knowledge in Society
In our IT-driven world, are we suffering from information overload? What is the difference between information and knowledge? In addition, economic performance relies more and more on knowledge management. Can scientific methodology and/or prudent deliberation test knowledge and truth claims? Can better science education enhance economic success and the quality of the environment? Is the purpose of education to enhance economic growth? What impact do new information and communication technologies have on knowledge generation, distribution and storage? How do these technologies affect learning?

Mind and Behaviour
Human behaviour can be observed directly, whereas the human mind cannot. These two areas are, however, both sides of one single coin. The research which tries to understand thought and behaviour in different cognitive domains is at the focus of psychological and educational sciences, linguistics and philosophy. These domains are problem solving and decision-making, memory and attention, communication, social competence, musical abilities theory of mind, and the learning aspects and development of these functions throughout life.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
As the sizes of devices are reduced, and as more and more information is packed into a smaller volume, nanotechnology tends towards an ultimate limit which is set by the quantum properties of matter. Just where does the limit lie?How small are the smallest devices that can be made? Should nanoscale devices be built up atom by atom or engineered by refining conventional fabrication techniques?What will be the applications of nanotechnolgy in computing or in medicine? Will nanotechnology revolutionise our future? Does the nanoscales hold new and fundamental scientific and social challenges?

Science and Ethics
Has ethics kept up with science? Ethical behaviour, in relation to scientific fraud and issues of intellectual property, are naturally central to good and successful scientific practice. Ethical frontiers now limit the subject matter of scientific research, rather than merely the methods. Stem cell debates illustrate the new caution accompanying scientific breakthroughs, and make clear the ways in which cultural differences between European countries produce contradictory outcomes, such as incompatible legal contexts. How can this be avoided? Does the ‘precautionary principle’ help? Should ethics committees act as gatekeepers for broader social and political ideas or prejudices? Will scientists travel to find other, more welcoming legislation?

Science and Arts
Does an equation have to be beautiful to be correct, as famously argued by Dirac? Artists use science for inspiration but is there any feedback from the Arts to the Sciences? Are the universal use of digital techniques and the development of new materials radically transforming the production, reproduction and consumption of art? Can science lead to good drama? We welcome proposals incorporating drama, music, poetry, visual arts, in addition to dialogue.

Science Policy Issues in Europe
We invite proposals on science governance in Europe, addressing also careers for young scientists, women in science, peer review, technology transfer and commercialisation, funding of research, etc.

Transformation of Cultures
All cultures are increasingly exposed to outside influences. This process is exaggerated by greater mobility and technical innovations, especially in the field of communication. Will the collision of profoundly different cultures provoke deep disruption, leading to rejection or to partial adaptation? Societies may also respond to these challenges by reaffirming their traditional identities. Should this arouse our concern?