A Web of Prevention: Biological Weapons, Life Sciences and the Governance of Research

ISBN-13: 9781844073733 / Angielski / Twarda / 2007 / 240 str.

Brian Rapper; Caitriona McLeish

Opis

Since September 11, governments and the public have raised serious concerns about scientific research in the life sciences that might be used by state, sub-state or terrorist organizations in the development of biological or chemical weapons. These concerns have sparked a vigorous debate about the control, regulation and governance of scientific research in the life sciences. This state-of-the-art volume examines the full extent of the issues and debates, analysing what we have and haven't learned from the past. It includes an overview of recent scientific achievements in virology, microbiology, immunology and genetic engineering in the context of how they might facilitate the production of weapons of mass destruction. Ultimately the authors examine what is required to form a comprehensive and workable 'web of prevention' that provides safe governance of vital but potentially dangerous research.

Spis treści

Foreword by Gabriele Kraatz-Wadsack * Introduction: A Web of Prevention? * Life Sciences or Death Sciences: Tipping the Balance towards Life with Ethics, Codes and Laws * Whistleblowers: Risks and Skills * Education for the Life Sciences: Choices and Challenges * Dual Use: Can We Learn from the Physicists Experience? A Personal View * Science and Technology Developments Relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention * Options for a Scientific Advisory Panel for the Biological Weapons Convention * Dual Use Biotechnology Research: The Case for Protective Oversight * Reflections on the Role of Research Oversight in a Web of Prevention * Export Control and the Non-proliferation of Materials: National Boundaries in International Science? * Chemical and Biological Weapons Export Controls and the Web of Prevention : A Practitioner‘s Perspective * How Does Secrecy Work? Keeping and Disclosing Secrets in the History of the UK Biological Warfare Programme * Reflecting on the Problem of Dual Use * Governing Dual Use Life Science Research: Opportunities and Risks for Public Health * Index