Who makes the rules for science? Find out at an Academy Times question-and- answer session later this month, to be held at NUI Galway, the first time an Academy Times event has been organised outside Dublin.
Members of the public attending the event, which takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 21st in the O'Flaherty Lecture Theatre, will hear eminent scientists describe their work and the ethical issues it raises in a session chaired by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman.
The public will be the real stars of the show, however, given that they will provide the questions and can request answers to any issues raised.
This Academy Times event, entitled No Strings Attached: Who Makes the Rules for Science?, is organised by the Royal Irish Academy, The Irish Times and the Linnean Society, in association with sponsors DEPFA Bank plc.
Panellists include Dr Frank Barry, a stem-cell researcher at NUI Galway, Prof Clive Page, who researches drug development at the University of London in the Sackler Institute, and surgeon Christine Evans, a consultant urologist better known in the UK for her expertise in penile reconstructive surgery.
Panellists will speak for 10 minutes and the chair will then ask pre-submitted questions provided by the public. There will also be live questions from the audience. Each of the panellists has been chosen because they work in areas where people are traditionally squeamish or have expressed particular concerns.
Free tickets for the event are available by accessing the Royal Irish Academy's website at www.ria.ie. Once people have a confirmed ticket they will be e-mailed to find out if they wish to submit questions. A small number of tickets is also available by dialling 091- 750418.
