- Is the amount of money currently spent on the space program justifiable in this global economic climate?
- Should parents be allowed to genetically modify their children before birth?
- Is the use of the patent system by pharmaceutical companies restricting the advancement and accessibility of drugs?
After the main speakers finished each topic, the microphones were handed around in the audience for people to speak their thoughts. There were some very good arguments and statements from people from all over the world. It was very interesting to hear some of the differences in opinion and approach to these questions; some were scientific, some were cultural, and some were emotional. For me the most notable quote came from one of the coordinatorss after a specific topic had ended. It went something like this:
Education is a right for every human being. That's the ideal, but that's not the world, is it? In this world education is a privilege, and we are all very privileged here. With that privilege comes a responsibility. If you are intelligent and educated, you have a responsibility, no matter what you do, to be a pillar of ethics in your society.
This forum has been a real eye-opener for me. The world is a bit smaller and vastly more complex than I knew. It will definitely take me a while to digest everything that I've seen and heard here in London, and I've got a whole volume of new scientific knowledge to share.
I have to scurry to the last lecture of the Forum and after that we have the closing ceremony. The rest of the evening will be spent packing and getting to bed early.
My next post will be from home.
Thanks for reading!
