Lectures and symposium at University of Toronto for CURAC (WURA) members

 

 

Whole genome sequencing allows researchers and clinicians to analyze all or part of an individual’s genome at a single time. This transformative technology also raises ethical issues given the amount of information we can learn about an individual. In this presentation I will discuss some of these issues including privacy and confidentiality, what results should be returned, and how data should be stored. I will also explore the ethics of altering the human genome.

Michael Szego is the Director of the Centre for Clinical Ethics at Unity Health Toronto and an Assistant Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, the Department Molecular Genetics, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Szego has a Doctorate in Molecular Genetics and a Masters Degree in Bioethics from the University of Toronto. His research interests include ethical issues associated with whole genome sequencing and the integration of ethics into clinical care.

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a popular topic in mainstream media, and increasingly used in the marketing of consumer products and services. In this talk, I will give a brief overview of AI, recounting some of the recent and expected advances in the field. I will also discuss some of the tremendous promise and peril for humanity of this transformative technology.

Sheila McIlraith is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, a Faculty Member at the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and a Canada CIFAR AI Chair. McIlraith's research studies mathematical principles and computational techniques associated with deliberative reasoning tasks, including automated planning and decision making.

Predatory/deceptive journals charge an article processing charge to authors, but do not have the hallmarks of legitimate scholarly journals, such as peer review and editing and other editorial standards. Their motive for publishing is financial gain. Unfortunately, we now realize that these deceptive journals have infiltrated our medical literature. How has this happened and what does it mean?

Lorraine Ferris (PhD, C. Psych., LLM) is a tenured Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Her areas of scholarship include medico-legal, public protection and women’s health. She is a Past President for the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) and remains active in that organization as Chair of their Ethics and Policy Committee (she is also currently serving as their Interim President). She has been involved in global discussions about predatory/deceptive journals and has written and presented on the topic.

In this seminar Dr. Jamil examines the endurance of IS and al-Qaida radicalization strategy, stressing that while blocking access to terrorist material should remain a priority, a removal policy is insufficient to neutralize the global threat of violent extremism. A better, more effective counterterrorism strategy would address the circumstances by which individuals turn into terrorists, as opposed to tackling violent extremist narratives and ideologies directly. Jamil's teaching and research interests lie at the interface between international intellectual property, artificial intelligence, machine learning technologies, cybersecurity, and fundamental rights, with particular emphasis on jihadi groups and social media.

Scientists and technologists have helped create weapons of incredible destructiveness, accuracy, speed, and sophistication. Their intellectual power can also be applied to create tools for peace, to verify arms control, support peacekeeping, and aid meditation. Drawing upon personal experience at a US nuclear laboratory and the United Nations, Dr. Walter Dorn (PhD Chemistry, UofT, 1995) will look at the challenges and dilemmas faced by scientists in this century and the last to create human value and uphold human life.

Walter Dorn is Professor of Defence Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) and the Canadian Forces College (CFC). He is also President of the World Federalist Movement – Canada (WFMC). He is a scientist by training (PhD in Chemistry, UofT 1995) and worked on the negotiation and implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. As an "operational professor," he serves at the UN as "Innovation Technology Expert" and seeks ways to improve the effectiveness of UN peace operations.