14/15, Brussels, preparatory session of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research

Dear Rafael,

On November 14-15th, 2013, the European Parliament will host, in Brussels, a preparatory session of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research – an international forum of discussion promoted by a group of renowned scientists, the Nonviolent Radical Party and the Luca Coscioni Association for Freedom of Scientific Research. The next Session of the Congress will be in Rome, on April 4-6th.

The November meeting at the European Parliament will be focused on two fundamental issues:

•   “What and Who is Science For?”, with specific debates about:

         – the real obstacles to scientific research
         – how can patients and citizens benefit from scientific knowledge

•   “Regulation of Science”, especially about:

         – new frontiers of biomedicine (for example, cell therapies and clinical trials)
         – issues about intellectual property and patenting of scientific research and open access to science.

You can find here  a draft programme. Here you can read a concept paper, prepared by Prof. Gilberto Corbellini (History of Medicine, University of Rome), about the challenges we will be facing from the November meeting onwards.

Among those who have confirmed their presence:

• Emma Bonino (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy)
• Tonio Borg (European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy)
• Faouzia Charfi (Physicist, former secretary of state for higher education, Tunisia)
• John Harris (Director of the Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation, University of Manchester)
• Bernat Soria (Scientist and former Minister of Health, Spain)
• John Sulston (Biologist, 2002 Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine)

The meeting will take place at the European Parliament on thursday 14th, from 2.30pm until 8pm, and on friday 15th, from 9am to 2pm.

For the Radical Party and Luca Coscioni Association members, we can offer an overnight stay (€60 per night, at the Hotel Renaissance, Rue du Parnasse 19) in a single or double use hotel room, while the travel costs will not be covered by us. Please let us know if you plan on attending, by writing to gabriele.dibattista@associazionelucacoscioni.it or by calling the number +39 331771643

Thank you, we hope to see you in Brussels!