Greetings and best wishes for a great 2018, for you and for the INS, from your INS president! I have a few things to report, and to request.
First, congratulations to former INS president Judy Illes, who has been
named a member of the Order of Canada!
Second, we’ve just changed our
group membership rate schedule. A 10% discount starts applying with five memberships. At 10 the discount goes to 15%, at 15, to 20%. If 20 or more people sign up as a group for the INS, their discount is 25%! At that rate we lose money on every membership – but we make it up in volume. ; ) Consider whether group memberships make sense in your setting – and remember, our memberships are inexpensive to begin with!
Third, I’m putting out a call for members who would like to join the
Communication, Outreach, and Membership Committee. We need four to six members drawn from the general membership, each of whom will serve a two-year term. Nominate yourself or some other member who would do a good job getting the word out about the INS! Please send nominations to
Karen Graham.
Happy New Year to us, one and all!
Hank Greely
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Technology's Intimate Insights at the BNA Christmas Event
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The INS was delighted to be invited to participate in the British Neuroscience Association’s Christmas symposium on December 18, 2017. Around 300 people, mostly neuroscientists, attended "Brain Technologies: A Brave New World?" We heard presentations on ground-breaking new technology to replace missing limbs, and to treat stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, disorders of consciousness, and even eating disorders.
The day ended with the INS session entitled, "Getting to know you: Technology’s intimate insights into human behaviour," chaired by Elaine Snell. Dr Stephen Rainey, Research Fellow at the Oxford Uehiro for Practical Ethics, described
BrainCom, a multidisciplinary European project developing neuroprosthetics for speech. Praminda Caleb-Solley, Associate Professor in Independent Living Systems at the University of the West of England, talked about
assistive technology for elderly and disabled people. The presentations led to a lively discussion with the audience on some of the ethical issues associated with these devices, such as replacing human care, interpretation and use of the data acquired by the technology, and whether we are compromising individual agency and freedom.
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Individuals who are members of both the INS and British Neuroscience Association (BNA) can receive a
10% discount on membership fees
for both organizations.
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Neuroethics in Print: Must-Read Books for 2018
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With a new year comes the inevitable list of things you want to do and accomplish in 2018. Be sure to save room on your list of resolutions to read a few of these must-read neuroscience and neuroethics books recently recommended by
Forbes, as well as a few of our own additions. Happy reading!
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The Fear Factor: How One Emotion Connects Altruists, Psychopaths and Everyone In-Between –
Abigail Marsh
Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst –
Robert Sapolsky
Can't Just Stop: An Investigation of Compulsions –
Sharon Begley
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The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others – Tali Sharot
Born Anxious: The Lifelong Impact of Early Life Adversity, And How To Break the Cycle –
Daniel P. Keating
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Neuroethics: Anticipating the Future – Judy Illes and Sharmin Hossain
Debates About Neuroethics: Perspectives on Its Development, Focus, and Future
- Eric Racine and John Aspler
Legal Insanity and the Brain: Science, Law and European Courts
–
Sofia Moratti and Dennis Patterson
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SfN Neuroethics Social Proposals
– A neuroethics social will not be held at Neuroscience 2018 unless a SfN member submits proposal by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, January 8, 2018. SfN Program Chair Kang Shen has provided guidelines for submitting Proposals for SfN Socials. To be connected with INS members that planned the event in previous years, contact Karen Graham at kgraham@neuroethicssociety.org.
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INS Student/Postdoc Committee – The INS Student/Postdoc Committee is looking for early career INS members to join their ranks. To apply, please submit a CV and a short statement about why you believe the committee would benefit from your involvement. Send your submission to staff at administrator@neuroethicssociety.org by January 15.
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Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System, and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to the country. This December, INS Past President Judy Illes was appointed into the Order of Canada.
Congratulations!
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Ilina Singh and the BNA Bulletin on Neuroethics
The British Neuroscience Association (BNA)
recently highlighted INS member Ilina Singh and neuroethics in their fall bulletin (Issue 81) in an article titled, "The Listening Project." Singh emphasizes the importance of neuroscientists to engage in contemplation and discussion of the ethical aspects of their research and a stronger relationship between science, medicine and ethics.
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2018 Brain Awareness Week Announcement – Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. A
ctivities are limited only by the organizers’ imaginations and include open days at neuroscience labs; exhibitions about the brain; lectures on brain-related topics; social media campaigns; displays at libraries and community centers; classroom workshops; and more.
Mark your calendars: this year's campaign will be observed March 12-18.
Check out
the winning sticker for 2018 and start planning your activities today!
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The Neuroethics Blog Series on Black Mirror: White Christmas –
"Technological advancements in science and medicine have helped and healed in ways we previously couldn’t dream of. But what unanticipated consequences may be lurking behind our rapid expansion into new technological territory? This question is continually being explored in the British sci-fi TV series
Black Mirror
, which provides a glimpse into the not-so-distant future and warns us to be mindful of how we treat our technology and how it can affect us in return." –
Yunmiao Wang
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Share your neuroethics news and research with INS members.
Submit online!
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JOBS / CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
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Faculty Position – Linkoping University in Sweden is now seeking applications for a full-time faculty position as a Professor in Technology and Social Change in the Department of Thematic Studies. Research within the department varies widely and includes topics of agency, care, embodiment, knowledge practices, normativities, and subjectivities in science, medicine and other technological practices through social, cultural, ethical, and philosophical perspectives. Applications are due January 15.
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Two-Year Postdoctoral Fellowship – The Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics is now accepting applications for a two-year fellowship starting August 1.
Candidates must have a terminal advanced degree (e.g., PhD, MD or JD). We are seeking candidates with a background in social science, ethics, law, philosophy, medicine or other related disciplines. Applications are due January 15.
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Visiting Residency – The Brocher Foundation is offering visiting residencies in 2019 that last between one and three months at the Brocher Centre in Geneva, Switzerland on ethical and legal projects. Proposals are due January 15.
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Non-Stipendiary Fellows – The Harvard Program on Science, Technology, and Society (STS) at the Harvard Kennedy School is seeking applications for pre- and postdoctoral non-stipendiary fellowships for the 2018-2019 academic year. Predoctoral fellowships are most appropriate for PhD students in STS or closely related fields who have embarked on dissertation research and writing. Postdoctoral fellowships are most appropriate for recent PhDs pursuing research that would benefit from systematic exposure to STS theories and methods. Applications are due January 31.
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Postdoctoral Fellowship – The University of Michigan Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine is seeking applicants for 1 or 2 postdoctoral research fellow positions in Bioethics and Decision Sciences for the 2018-2019 academic year. Active projects in bioethics currently include the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomic medicine, human subjects research ethics, global bioethics, gender equity, reproductive justice, deliberative democratic methods in bioethics, and the sociology of medical ethics/bioethics, among others. Applications are due February 5.
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BRAIN Initiative Fellows: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) –
The purpose of this opportunity is to enhance research training of promising postdoctorates, early in their postdoctoral training period, who have the potential to become productive investigators in research areas that will advance the goals of the BRAIN Initiative. Applications must be relevant to one or more goals of the
BRAIN 2025
report, including neuroethics. At the time of the application due date, candidates must not have completed more than 12 months of postdoctoral training, excluding well-justified leave. Due dates for applications include March 15, December 7, August 7, 2019, and April 7, 2020. Contact Dr. Ashlee Van’t Veer at
Brain.Initiative.Training@nih.gov for more information.
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A neuroethics round up – "As scientific innovations move into clinical practice, neurologists are confronted with difficult choices and new risks. Research in neuroethics must occur in parallel to match this progress, and anticipate the debate on any social, legal, and personal consequences." Judy Illes contributed her expertise to the author who wrote this editorial. –
(Lancet Neurology)
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Time to stop using the term 'brain death' in public
– "Brain death is a technical term for diagnosing of death, not a synonym for death. Educating the public and the media about brain death is futile. Time for death to speak its name." – Arthur Caplan (Bioethics Blog)
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Could a Zap to the Brain Derail Destructive Impulses?
– "[Stanford neuroscientists] found a telltale pattern of brain activity that comes up seconds before the animals start to pig out — and delivering a quick zap to that part of the brain kept the mice from overindulging." –
Esther Landhuis (NPR)
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February 15-19; Austin, TX
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March 12-13, 2018; Vancouver, BC, Canada
This roundtable workshop will bring together thought leaders from industry, government, and academia to share insights into how ethics can help technology innovators create products that align with societal values.
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June 20-22, 2018; Paris, France
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July 7-11, 2018; Berlin, Germany
Don't miss the neuroethics lecture by Helen Mayberg scheduled for July 8!
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2018 INS Annual Meeting
November 1-2, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA
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The
International Neuroethics Society
an interdisciplinary group of scholars, scientists, clinicians, and other professionals who share an interest in the social, legal, ethical and policy implications of advances in neuroscience. Our mission is to encourage and inspire research and dialogue on the responsible use of advances in brain science.
Join today!
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