project

BioTalk – students discuss chances and risks of genetic engineering in food

Funding institutions :
Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Project team :
Dr. Susanne Stirn
Dr. Sandra Kerbach

Co- operation partners:
TuTech Innovation GmbH, Hamburg
Fraunhofer (IAIS), St. Augustin
Institute for Didactics in Natural Sciences , University of Hamburg

Funding period:
01.04.2005 - 31.03.2006

Summary

The project  BioTalk has offered an online platform for students to discuss ethical, legal and social aspects of the application of genetic engineering to food. As an addition to school lectures students have been provided with the opportunity to exchange their views on a topic which is mainly discussed in expert panels with an exclusively scientific focus.
During the first part of the project background information on selected topics of genetic engineering was prepared for project classes in schools and for interested students. This background information consisted of three parts: basic knowledge on the techniques, applications of genetic engineering in foods and ethical viewpoints on the impact of genetic engineering. This was considered necessary to disclose the complexity of the topic and to include ethical and social aspects as well as non-scientific (everyday) knowledge.
From 24.01.06 until 10.02.06 a moderated online dialogue has been opened (www.biotalk.de). The discussion was differentiated in four thematic fora (“genfood & health”, “genfood & freedom of choice”, “genfood & Third World”, “genfood & prosperity?”) and resulted in a concluding debate at the end. In the course of the internet discussions the participants developed role-specific argumentations from the perspective of different stakeholders (e.g nature protection, industry, consumer, church.). Another possibility to encourage the expression of hopes and fears was to write stories. During these three weeks more than 300 participants have submitted more than 3000 contributions to the discussion.