Each Roundtable Summary

The topics that were discussed in the round-table discussion were about cloning, geo-engineering technology and genetic modified food.

The first roundtable discussion was about geo-engineering technology. In their roundtable discussion, they spoke about the carbon capture and storage processes. It is a process to manipulate the climate to reduce undesired climate change. They felt that it helps to mitigate climate change in a large scale using various forms of technologies. In their discussion they spoke about the release of sulfur particles into the stratosphere which causes the sunlight and heat to be reflected back to space. This is a method of geo-engineering that is currently being researched. Nevertheless they feel that the cost of the research and development is too high thus causing a resistance for such technology to take place.

The second roundtable discussion was about cloning. Cloning is a process of creating an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another. In their discussion they spoke about human cloning. They felt that such technology has benefits such that it creates a fertility treatment that allows parents who are both infertile to have children with at least some of their DNA or even provide genetically similar cells for medicine, tissues and organs for transplantation. Nevertheless some feel that these technology leads to ethical problems. For example they felt that cloning takes nature into our own hands. They feel that some things have to take place naturally.

Lastly the group discussed on genetic modified food. Genetic modified foods are made from plants and animals through genetic engineering. They felt that this technology will lower pesticide usage thus providing better profits for farms. In other words they feel that this would make the cost of food more economical. Nevertheless, this technology leads to several health effects such gene transfer, allergies and even diseases. More researches on genetic modified food are currently being carried out.