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Can we strike the balance between risk and reward?
Date: Tuesday 1 April 2014 18:00-21:00 (Including informal networking)
Venue: Charles Darwin House, London WC1
This event is part of the Society of Biology's Policy Lates series. Policy Lates is an informal discussion series from the Society of Biology, tackling contemporary science policy topics.
The precautionary principle is often described as a “better safe than sorry” approach when an action is suspected as harmful for humans or the environment, and the scientific evidence for safety is unclear.
It makes sense not to take a risk when we don’t have sufficient information, or when the action is not needed or potentially beneficial in other ways, but is this ever really the case? We face tough decisions over issues such as disease control and food security, and sound science needs to inform decision-making.
Striking a balance between protecting people and the planet while maximising scientific and economic output isn’t easy, nor is communicating these issues. The Precautionary Principle is supposed to help – how can we ensure that it does?
Professor Jim Dunwell (Chair) School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading
Professor Ian Boyd FSB Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra
Tracey Brown Managing Director, Sense About Science
Professor Joe Perry FSB University of Greenwich
For more information and to reserve a free place visit: societyofbiology.org/policy-lates
Follow the #policylates precautionary principles debate on Twitter @Society_Biology
View the poster for this event here
