BioEd 2004: Biology, Sustainable Development, Ethics and Citizenship
To address the urgent questions of today, the most extensive possible debate is needed. The International Conference, BioEd 2004: Biological Education, Sustainable Development, Ethics and Citizenship, aims to provide such a forum.
CONFERENCE GOALS
Explore the linkages among biological sciences, the environment, sustainable development, and society
Promote bioliteracy and biology education reforms that integrate biology, sustainability, health, well-being, ethics, and citizenship
Make recommendations for improving biology education worldwide in support of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainability, adopted for 2005-2015.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
Prepare an agenda for biological education in sustainable development, ethics, and citizenship
Develop guidelines for implementing this agenda in developed and developing countries
Involve leaders in science and society in the full range of the educational enterprise, from formal (intermediate and secondary schools, colleges, and graduate institutions) to informal, including public education, and training in environmental education, biological education, agricultural education, health education, and engineering education
Address the question of identifying essential knowledge about the environment, sustainability, health, and well-being
Address the roles of science and values in education, while exploring the use of new educational technologies and pedagogical methods
Explore and evaluate the diversity of approaches and themes, encouraging participants to discover the shared ground of different themes and approaches
Make recommendations on how to develop bioliteracy, with special reference to sustainability, ethics, and citizenship
Prepare a report and distribute it widely, via hardcopy, the Web, and briefings and presentations to policy and decision makers at national and international levels.
PARTICIPANTS
The Conference will bring together approximately 300-500 bioscientists, biology educators and teacher-trainers, policy-makers, business people, and media specialists, as well as philosophers, theologians, and ethicists. Participants from around the world will be invited to report on their research, experiments, and practical and empirical results and demonstrate educational materials and methodologies (posters, videos, exhibits, theater, etc.).
Biological education, health, and well-being
Biological education, environment, and sustainability
Biological education, agriculture, nutrition, and food security
Biological education in the modern age of information and communication technologies
Biological education, ethics, and citizenship
Working groups will be established, involving chair persons and reporters of various symposia and workshops to draw up conclusions and recommendations for adoption at the final plenary session of the conference.
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Michael Atchia Mauritius & IUBS CBE/Former Chairman
Erwin Beck Germany & IUBS
Pierre Clément France, University of Lyon
André Giordan France/Switzerland, IUBS CBE Chairman, LDES, University of Geneva
Braulio Dias Brazil, MMA, Vice President, IUBS
Danielle Grynzspan Brazil, Fondacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro
Orlando Rose Hall Costa Rica, Chief, Science Education Division, UNESCO
Motonori Hoshi Japan, IUBS
Myriam Krasylchik Brazil, University of Sao Paulo
Keiko Nakamura Japan, IUBS CBE
N.M. Ramaswamy India
Faqir Vohra Malaysia, IUBS CBE
Wake Marvalee USA & IUBS
Talal Younès Lebanon/France & IUBS Executive Director
Those interested in taking part in the BioEd 2004 conference may find information at the IUBS-CBE Web site: www.iubs.org/test/BioEd%202004/frBioEd2004.htm.
For further details, please contact Faqir Vohra, Secretary-General, CBE-IUBS, at [email protected].
FOOTNOTES
Organized by the International Union of Biological Sciences Commission for Biological Education With the cosponsorship of Fiocruz Foundation, IUBS, UNESCO, and the LDES, University of Geneva
18 September 2004
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil www.iubs.org/test/BioEd%202004/frBioEd2004.htm.