by Ausma Bernotaite

Research Officer Ausma Bernotaite recently visited Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HUST), our partners in hosting the Scientific Risk and Public Communication workshop in Wuhan this March.

Our partner for the workshop is Prof Ruipeng Lei, who is also the Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy in HUST and the Executive Director of the Center for Bioethics. Prof Lei has been active in empowering a bioethics dialogue in Mainland China as well as international exchange.

Together with Prof Lei's team, we will invite discussion on communicating emerging science in the wake of new national guidelines on ethical governance in China. The workshop will bring together different stakeholders together to discuss how best to use new and existing GM technologies and communicate them to the public. The workshop organisers have invited policy makers, scientists, sociologists, organic market organisers and public engagement specialists.

During her stay in Wuhan, Bernotaite visited HUST's International Academic Exchange Centre, where this workshop will take place. Given Wuhan's rising status as a leading research city in China, it is not surprising to find that this Exchange Centre offers a range of thoughtful services and excellent facilities that help conference organisations (and they even have an amazing in-house restaurant!). We look forward to exchanging thoughts, ideas and experiences in the vibrant academic environment in HUST.

(in the featured images are Ausma Bernotaite, Research Officer for GSA (left), Prof Ruipeng Lei (middle) and Yakun Ou, Research Assistant to Prof Lei (right))