Young people should also be debating ethical issues. This position is put forward by the Danish Council of Ethics. The Council has just re-launched their educational website called "Ethics and Life's Building Blocks"
The website "Ethics and Life's Building Blocks" is designed for pupils aged 14-16. The teachers and students can find inspiration in the field of new technologies and ethical issues they bring along. It is never too early for a school child to start discussing ethical issues.
"Primary school should not be just about education but also about formation. It is valuable to work with ethics, because ethics is not just about arguments for and against, the concept also brings an understanding of basic values and humanity", says Council President Jacob Birkler and continues:
"The techniques presented on the website are alike in the way that they have the potential to alter peoples' basic living conditions. The younger generations of today will live with the future consequences of today's technologies, and therefore it is important that the young people are well- prepared to work with the ethical questions that techniques brings up."
The educational website has been updated: Two new cases about GM and stem cell production of meat. Furthermore, new texts have been written on ethics and climate, as well as new interviews with ethicists and science researchers. We have created an interactive character named "Organism", where students can learn how an organism works.
Jacob Hørlyck Kruse, deputy headteacher at a primary school, has assisted with valuable viewpoints regarding the level of severity of the content of the above-mentioned themes:
"The Danish Council of Ethics' education site is an easy access in the start of debating ethical aspects of new biotechnologies. The information is presented in a way that I and the students can relate to. The site also gives short and relevant information about new knowledge within the field of biology. In a time where the volume of information increases each month, it is great to have a site to refer to when working with some of the primary topics within the field of biotechnology. Being a teacher it is important to present various tools to the pupils. These skills will help them in the process of getting an insight in the new areas of ethical dilemmas."
Read more on www.etikoglivet.dk (in Danish only)
For more information please contact:
Louise Dehn, Communication Coordinator, +45 7221 6868, e-mail: lcd@etiskraad.dk