GM_regulation_2024
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Title: International Paradigms of Regulation: Cost/Benefit and Beyond
Presenter: GE71A
Date: November 20, 2024
Clicker Check: Favorite Thanksgiving Dish
A) Gotta go with the bird
B) Starchy sides, especially mashed potatoes
C) Roasted veggies (due to often dry Tofurky)
D) Takeout and a movie
E) Thanksgiving as inherently political, neo-colonial "holiday"
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Topic: Integration of function
Example: ( y = A f(x) + b )
Graphing calculators requested for demonstration.
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Definition: Biotechnology
Notable Figure: Dr. Richard Cash (83)
Died October 2024
Created Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), saving over 57 million lives.
ORT: Mix of water, salt, and sugar to combat dehydration from illnesses like cholera.
Notable Quote: Dr. Nabi on Dr. Cash's teachings about real-world impact vs. theoretical publications.
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Topic: Political Aspects of GM Seeds
Shiva’s Model: Views of GM seeds within capitalism and industrial agriculture as a neo-colonial issue.
Scroggins’s Model: Embraces the chaos of agriculture and the implications of GM innovation.
Pixley et al.’s Model: Proposes solutions like accessible IP licenses and collaborative research stations.
Key Question: Are GM seeds inherently political? Arguments for and against.
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Outline of Today’s Lecture
Science controversy of GMOs
Public opinion on GMOs
Regulation and moral philosophy
Cost/Benefit analysis in technology regulation
International regulatory differences.
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Learning Goals
Comparative understanding of different regulatory technologies, especially GMOs.
Critical thinking about public opinion and technology regulation.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the "deficit model" of public science understanding.
Compare public opinion across technological issues.
Comprehend how social identities affect technological comprehension.
Define "regulation" of technology.
Outline moral philosophy differences in regulation: consequentialism, deontology, participation, and precaution.
Explain cost-benefit analysis logic.
Analyze regulatory approaches in US, UK, and Germany regarding risks.
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Controversy: GMO Crop Use
Claims:
GM crops have not delivered on yield increase promises.
GM crops have not led to expected reductions in pesticide use.
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Data Presentation: NYTimes on Yield and Pesticides
Displays pesticide use metrics in US vs. Western Europe.
Includes data trends from 1985-2014.
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Response: GMO Advocates to Pesticide Use Data
Comparison metrics presented with graphical emphasis on pesticide types and their usage implications.
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Responses from GM Scientists
Arguments that GM crops primarily focus on ensuring yield.
Example: GM Papaya saved commercial yield.
Clarification that yield perceptions are relative to various agricultural factors.
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Continuous GM Controversy
Synopsis of ongoing debates regarding GM safety, equity, and morality.
References to external analyses and discussions on GM issues.
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Public Opinion on GMOs in Europe
Eurobarometer Survey showing changing attitudes toward GM food in EU over years from 2005 to 2010.
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European Perception of GM Foods
Analysis on how EU respondents perceive GM food along the lines of benefits, safety, and naturalness.
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US Opinion on GMOs
Pew Research Poll (Jan 2015): Majority of Americans view GMOs as unsafe.
Consumer Reports data on avoidance of GM ingredients and labeling preferences.
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Concept: Deficit Model of Science Controversy
Overview of public understanding issues and conflicts around science driven by knowledge deficits as perceived by educated elites.
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Scientific Knowledge and Political Identification
Kahan (2014) Study insights on how political identity influences scientific understanding and public perception of controversies.
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Continued Discussion: Political Identity and Knowledge
Further examples examining the intersection of knowledge, identity, and public opinion.
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Evolution Knowledge and Religiosity
Example question on human evolution linked to varied religiosity levels.
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Disentangled Relations of Evolution Knowledge and Religiosity
Deeper analysis on how knowledge and religiosity interact in public understanding.
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Risk Perception Across Issues
Public beliefs on risks from environmental and technological challenges as informed by political identification.
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Hierarchical Risk Perceptions
Presentation of a risk hierarchy across different societal issues demonstrating cultural worldviews affecting perceptions.
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Implications for Science Controversy Politics
The 'deficit model' suggests public education as a key to conflict resolution; however, knowledge discrepancies are deeply interwoven with identity.
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Unstructured Public Opinion on GMOs in the US
Current state of unstructure surrounding GMO debates, distinct from past political polarization examples.
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Concept of Regulation
Jasanoff's depiction of regulation as social contracts balancing technological risks and public trust.
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Overview of Moral Philosophy
Definition of morality's role in public regulation, outlining four fundamental moral perspectives: consequentialism, deontology, participation, precaution.
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Detail: Consequentialism
Focus on outcomes as moral criteria, with key historical figures like John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham introducing significant ideas.
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Detail: Deontology
Emphasizes duty and obligation over outcomes, referencing Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative.
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Detail: Participation
Importance of public involvement in moral and ethical decisions, referencing historical participatory movements.
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Detail: Precaution
Rightness defined by risk uncertainty; highlights the dynamic evaluation of new technologies.
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Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
Methodology for assessing outcomes of decisions in terms of quantifiable positives and negatives.
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Clicker Question: CBA Moral Philosophy
Options presented relating CBA to philosophical approaches, focusing on consequentialism.
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Historical Context of CBA
Examination of CBA's origin with engineer/bureaucrats and its political implications through history.
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Clicker Poll: Value of CBA in Regulation
Reflects diverse perspectives on the merits and drawbacks of CBA in policy formation.
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Further Clicker Poll: Conditions for CBA Usage
Discussion on when it is appropriate to apply CBA based on context.
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Political Controversy around CBA
Critiques of CBA’s proof standards, business influence, and associated regulatory paralysis.
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Example Case: CBA in Air Pollution Regulation
Inquiries into the costs and benefits of increasing pollution regulatory measures.
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Kelman’s Critique of CBA
Criticism that CBA may lead to morally objectionable outcomes and risks oversimplifying complex ethical issues.
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Responses to Kelman’s Critique
Argues that CBA provides balance and recognition of public values amidst decision-making challenges.
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Broader Issues with CBA
Challenges associated with estimating values of non-market components and the risks inherent in technocratic approaches.
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Clicker Question: Jasanoff’s Risks in Biotech Regulation
Three types of risks framed for discussion: Physical, Social, and Political.
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Jasanoff's Regulatory Framework
Describes regulatory categories for biotech risks and questions of historical context in GMO regulation.
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US Regulation Overview for GMOs
Focus on product risks over processes, leading to expert-driven regulatory discussions.
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UK Regulation of GMOs
Recognition of unique risks posed by GM processes, embracing a comprehensive regulatory framework.
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Germany's Regulatory Approach to GMOs
Initial expert guidance evolving into a broader public discourse on risks, impacting policy structures.
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Summary of Regulatory Paradigms
Contrast between US, UK, and Germany regarding GMO risks and regulatory focus reflecting their respective moral philosophies.
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Continued Summary of Policy Paradigms
Overview of the implications of each regulatory approach linked to moral philosophies and public trust in scientific discourse.