Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 18, 1990 TAG: 9004170058
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
Geneticist Doris Zallen came here in 1983 from New York's University of Rochester medical school believing that other issues, besides the scientific ones, were becoming equally relevent in her life.
And political or not, Zallen thought advances in science should be discussed and this made her want more than just being stuck in the lab.
To eliminate divisions between the public and science, Zallen thought technical people could be brought together with local citizens to discuss rapid changes in science and the issues those advancements caused.
And her idea forged the "Choices and Challenges" series at Virginia Tech in 1985.
"Ethical and philosophical issues became important to me while I was in Rochester," said Zallen, who is a professor and geneticist in the humanities department. "With the many advances in science and technology, I found that social and ethical issues were very much related. I disagree very strongly with polarization," she said.
The series was established by the Center for Programs in the Humanities to allow social and ethical aspects of significant developments in technology to be identified and talked about.
In other words, scientific advancements really do have something to do with worrying about pesticides, for example, or wondering whether or not oat bran should be part of your diet.
Zallen believes people have a right to gripe and question the advancements and what they will do. And technical people can answer questions, see any relationships and possibly act on them.
"Since it's true that controversial issues don't get covered, this forum attempts to change all that," said Zallen.
The first "Choices and Challenges" forum in February 1985 discussed reproductive technology. With new insights achieved in the lab, new choices were available to the public. Since people can be overwhelmed with information and not understand it, the series looked at the nature of the new choices and the social challenges they presented.
Such experts as Gary D. Hodgen, who was scientific director of the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine and a professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Noel P. Keane, an attorney and director of the Infertility Center of New York, offered their knowledge.
Then, as in all forums, discussion with the audience was opened on such items as religious perspectives and the future of reproduction.
"We are on the cutting edge," said William James McAuley, director of the Center for Gerontology at Tech who is also on the series' planning committee. "We have such mixed groups to discuss topics. It's an amazing program."
The topic in April 1988 was "Altering the Aging Process." Dubbed as "one of the most important areas in biomedical research," discussion at the series touched on whether a process could extend the life span; what the personal and societal effects of an aging change could have; and whether someone could live to be more healthy and vigorous in old age.
Audience and discussed advances and explored many issues associated with making life longer.
Aren't these topics too controversial and don't they end up turning into shouting matches?
"The human issues in science and technology are controversial," Zallen said. "But everyone keeps a respectful tone. There is no hidden agenda and everyone voices an opinion. . . . It's a useful discussion."
It's so useful that the Public Broadcasting System decided to make some "Choices and Challenges" forums a national teleconference.
The PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service and Virginia Tech presented the first "Choices and Challenges" forum in November 1989 on "The Pesticide Dilemma." The live two-hour presentation made the discussion on pesticides, and the range of issues related to their use, available to colleges and others.
The forums are tailored to issues of this area, but PBS took the regional information to other parts of the country; "we can't be regional now," Zallen said.
Six forums were held in 1985 and 1986, but Zallen has had to limit them to about one per semester because she "just couldn't keep up the pace."
She and committee members took a survey to see what issues were of particular interest to participants. The upcoming forum on Thursday, called "Food Fights," will discuss diet and disease.
"There is a relationship between diets and diseases," McAuley said. "We want to know what that relationship is."
"It's a topical and interesting forum," said Marilyn Buhyoff, who is on the steering committee. "We won't be presenting a viewpoint, but a way to help you evaluate what you see and hear on the news so that you can investigate with more knowledge."
Zallen said the forums enrich the area and help experts advance their research so it's very much a community service.
PBS will present "Food Fights" live and urges educators to tape the program for later class discussions.
To get as many as possible involved - some forums have drawn over 700 people - registration is free and will take place Thursday, 8-9 a.m., in the lobby of Donaldson Brown Center at Tech. After that, participants can call the Adult Registrar's Office at 231-5182.
"And we've created a new link," Zallen added. "We send the programs to local legislators so that policy makers have them. This way they too can make better decisions about information they get and the issues related to them."
by CNB