Dialog on Brain, Society, and Ethics

Since 2005, JST/RISTEX “Brain-Science & Society” research center (Director, Hideaki Koizumi, Ph.D.) has organized workshops entitled “Brain science and ethics” annually in order to facilitate the interaction between neuroscience community and public society.

In July 2006, the center will organize the symposium “At the Ethical Frontier of Higher Brain Function Research” in the 29th annual meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (July 19-21, at Kyoto International Conference Hall), and Dr. Judy Illes (Stanford University), a one of the pioneers of neuroethics in the World, is joining us as a co-organizer. We would be so happy to provide another opportunity for more inter-discipline dialogue across scientists, ethicists, and journalists in Tokyo after the conference.

Our mission is introducing neuroethics, which is originally established by the United States, and still being developed in mostly American and European regions, to Japanese society. In addition, we would also aim for facilitating the interaction between neuroscience and ethics to map the Japanese-specific filed surrounding neuroethics as well as publication of this interactive process in Japan to world wide. Those who are interested in the discussion about the possibility and ethical concern of how science and technology of brain research can contribute our social life will be all welcome.