New Scientist and Greenpeace Science Debates

New Scientist and Greenpeace Sciene Debates

Science, technology and our future: the big questions

New Scientist and Greenpeace regularly disagree. But when it comes to the impact of science and technology on our lives, we are of one mind: without proper dialogue none of us will be able make real choices on key issues. Welcome to the debate!

What is 'Natural'?

What does the biotechnology century do to our relationship with nature? Will we enjoy wandering through a garden less if we know the flowers are built in the lab? Is our idea of "the natural" simply a romantic myth that needs to be abandoned?

Listen to Richard Dawkins, Patrick Holden, Aubrey Manning and Chris Leaver
or read transcripts of their speeches.

The search for perfection

Medical science lets us change our appearance or personality, and control our reproductive fate. But along the way, we have become obsessed with perfection and eliminating defects. Do we really know whether it is better to be a permanently contented Barbie doll or wildly creative manic depressive with a crooked nose?

Listen to John Harris, Tom Shakespeare, Kathy Philips and Donald Bruce or read transcripts of their speeches.

Technology: Taking the good without the bad?

As the frontiers of biotech, nanotech and IT get weirder and wilder, are major risks emerging? Should we ban some technologies because they are too easy to subvert? Could we become slaves to the system without even noticing?

Listen to Robin Grove-White, Ian Pearson, Jon Turney and Brian Aldiss or read transcripts of their speeches.

Can science be directed?

Why do we spend billions on GM and only millions on understanding Earth's ecology? Are scientists powerful without being accountable? Is most funding really fuelling corporate agendas outside our control? Do we need to make the forces that drive science explicit so we can make choices that benefit more people?

Listen to Martin Rees, Steve Fuller, William Stewart and Vandana Shiva or read transcripts of their speeches.