Expertise in Ethics & Risk Regulation

Summary

Following many years of argument, it is now generally accepted by decision makers that the ethical aspects of a new technology may be a legitimate element of risk regulation.  However, it has proven difficult to integrate ethical concerns into regulatory decision making. Providing decision makers with access to ethical expertise, alongside expertise in other disciplines such as economics, risk assessment or law, is one response to this dilemma.  But expertise in ethics has a controversial place in the regulatory process. The EU regulation of nanotechnology provides  a case study through which to explore the role of ethical debate in risk regulation.

Host: University College London

Speaker

• Professor Maria Lee (UCL Faculty of Laws)
• Discussant: Professor John Adams (Emeritus Professor of Geography at UCL)
• Chair: Dr Sylvie Delacroix (Director, UCL Centre for Ethics & Law)