GSO4SCHOOL Summer School 2020
Just once is not enough! That’s why we are happy to announce that the Greek Student Parliament on Science is going into a second round. Science View will be organizing the Student Parliament on Science in Greece, with the aid of the School of Philosophy / Faculty of Philosophy, Pedagogy and Psychology of the University of Athens.
The Greek Student Parliament on Science is part of a pan-European action – European Student Parliaments on Science – which brings together European countries coordinated by Germany (Wissenschaft im Dialog). High school students will participate in parliamentary procedures, while acting as investigators of scientific issues with the help of renowned experts and their teachers.
This rounds’ overall topic will be ‘The Future of the Human Being’ and current issues such as brain research, genetically modified food or artificial reproduction will be discussed. Experts from the respective field of research will support the students in their scientific working groups to identify specific problems and questions.
In July 2016, the final event of the ‘European Student Parliaments’ will take place in Manchester as part of the EuroScience Open Forum 2016 (ESOF). Over three days, around 100 delegates from all over Europe will discuss the topic ‘The Future of the Human Being’ in a European context.
Here, the students will come together in committees to discuss their ideas in the light of the resolutions adopted in the local parliaments. In expert hearings, they will receive support from international scientists in the respective field. The students will debate on the suggestions of the working groups and vote on the final resolutions.
Beforehand, various local parliaments take place in different European countries, bringing together around 1,500 students to express their ideas on future humanity. Five students of each student parliament get the chance to participate in the finals in Manchester to represent both their country and topic.
Up to 100 students will participate in each local student parliament. During three days these students will discuss “The future of the Human Being” and related questions and issues. For each subtopic a working group will be formed and monitored by a moderator. Five experts will support the students during expert hearings by giving input and information on the scientific background. Finally, in the parliamentary debate the committees present their suggestions and vote on resolutions.
Here’s an short overview of the three day schedule:
Day 1 will involve greetings by the organisers and hosts and primarily teambuilding activities for the students to warm up for the parliament and get to know each other. Usually, a social activity or group dinner will also take place.
Day 2 will be mainly working group sessions and expert hearings which will take about 2 hours. The students will also prepare the parliamentary debates on day 3.
Day 3 will contain of all parliamentary debates including a voting after the claims have been presented. The results of the students’ work will be handed over to a policymaker of the hosting city or country.
The sub-topics to be discussed in the Greek Student Parliament on Science are:
1. The Human Brain. The human brain has been investigated intensively for years. Experts hope for therapies against dementia illnesses, but also human thinking and feeling is a core focus. But how does our brain work? Can we really simulate our brain and thinking? And will we be able to understand and heal dementia illnesses?
2. Living and eating healthy – but how? Organic food is ‚en vogue‘. But what is that supposed to mean? Do we better not eat meat or even animal products at all? Are genetically engineered foods dangerous for our health? Are long-term consequences to be expected? And how can we be sure what is really healthy and what isn’t?
3. Stem cells – the potential allrounders? There would be no man or any other multicellular creature without stem cells. What are stem cells and why is their investigation this attractive – and frowned upon at the same time? How does our life change if we can direct stem cells – and how is that supposed to function at all?
4. Augmented human: optimising the human. Glasses and protheses have been employed for many centuries to optimise the human body. As of now a new wave of modifying the body is being initiated: by means of the google glasses or a ring that can name objects using a camera. What will the human being look like in 20 years’ time? Will our skills be extended through implants, drugs or other technical means?
5. Imitating nature. Imitating nature through a modular system – that is what synthetic biology is about. Scientists hope for new medication and new pharmaceutical ingredients. How is that supposed to function? How can we imitate new biological pieces, gadgets or systems? And don’t we overstep the mark here?
Contact: info@scienceview.gr
More info:
http://scienceview.gr/projects/8
http://www.student-parliaments.eu/
Related posts
