Institute of Internatihal Education

809 UNITEDNATIONS PLAZA,NEWYORK,N.Y. 10017

PROPOSAL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CONFEREPUCE
ON THE SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS
       OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

Summary: The Institute of International Education (ITE) seeks funding
in the amount of $56,245 to cover the costs of planning and Zeveloping
an international conference of leading scientists and humanists to
explore the social and ethical implications of genetic angincering.

I. The Issue

Genetic engineering has long been considered a distant possibility.

Now very recent discoveries concerning the manipulation of the DNA
molecule, which is the repository of hereditary traits, have made it- an
imminent reality.  The results may have a Tore profound effect upon  the
lives of present and future generations than any otheir discovery of
modern times.

   There is still time to shape the implications of these discovei-ies.
In the words of a group of concerned scieritists with whom IIE' consu ted:
"Because the technology is not yet perfected, and there has been as yet
relatively little economic investment in it,  the case of gcnc:tic en< i-
neering presents to the world at this moment a unique optwrtunity t(
consider, in advance, the interests of humanity befort- it is too laic to
control the use of this powerful technique."

The scigntists engaged in this research believe that it will atid

importantly to our understanding of the molecular ba
diseases and will eventually permit directed alterat
of micro-organisms, plants ind animals. Many useful- -.trJpl icaLioris of
genetic engineering have been predicted. It has also Ixcn pointed wt,
however, that many apparently desirable genetic alterations could
disturb in some way the intricately balanced inter-reI~itionsE!jps that
have evolved in nature so that the net effect of these geizetic alter-
ations , although unforeseeable at present , might be hcirriif 111 to socic ty.
Furthermore, there are danger8 which are inherent in Lhe nat-ure of tht
research which is now in progress : the uoiintenti-om1 cxc.at
disease forms, for example , or the spread of ckiiiccr L%J <I 1 Le
The changes brought about by genetic encfineci'inq are  >el f-diiL~Licatincj,
and as a result many of them would be irreversible.

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   Biological scientists around the world are aware of the hazards of
genetic engineering research, and they have joined together to discuss
the dangers and to formulate safety guidelines in order to minimize the
risk of laboratory accidents.
however, have not been seriously considered.

The more profound social questions,

   Indeed, it is not in the province of scientists alone to weigh the
possible risks and rewards of genetic engineering; nor should they be
left to make decisions which may have a profound effect upon the  future
of humanity. For this we need the participation of every memSer of
society and particularly of those who are specially qualified to evaluate
the ethical and social implications of the issue. The possibility of
applying genetic engineering to the evolution of the human spccies,  for
example, raises fundamental ethical questions which need to be brought
out into the open.

   There is little precedent fox an organized consideration of the
ends of scientific research of any type with respect to social and
ethical values. An international meeting would be an innovative approach
to one of the major emerging problems of modern society.

11. Proposed Action

   The Institute of International Education proposes to undertake a
three- to four-month program of planning for an interrational.  conference
to be held in late 1977 or early 1978, probably in Western Europe, to
effect the following:

A.

B.

C.

D.

To bring together leading biologists, other natural scientists,
social scientists, and humanists (especially philosophers and
theologians) as well as public affairs leaders from throug'iout
the world to examine and discuss the issues involved.

To collect, edit, and publish the most signiEicant
contributions.

c)

To raise public consciousness of the issues inherent in
genetic-engineering research and to educate public policy
leaders.

To consider and promote ways of ensuring continuing expression
of the public intereht in this area.

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111. Purpose of this Request

   The Institute is seeking funding in the amount of $56,245  (budget
attached) to carry out all the preliminary work of planning and orqan-
izing the conference.

This funding will make possible, first of all, formation of an

advisory council of between 50 and 60 persons, including scholars from
all areas of the world who enjoy international reputations in the
natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, as riel; as pilblic
affairs leaders and representatives of appropriate scientific and
nonscientific professional associations in the United States and abroad.
In the case of biologists, membership will be offered to both opponc?
and supporters of the new research techniques, insofar, of cotirse, 4s>p"

issue. This council will be asked:

the latter also support the appropriateness of public debate on the

&a+-

A. To recommend a site and other logistical arrangements.

B. To prepare the agenda.

C. To identify participants and mode of invitation.

D. To select speakers and to commission papers.

E. To design preparatory and follow-up activities.

F. To prepare and submit requests for conference fundiq, pre-

ferably from both United States and non-United States sources.

In addition, a 15-man executive committee, drawn from the council's

membership, will be appointed. Not more than one-half of this conmii ttee's
members will be from the United States. This c0mmittc.e will tindertake:

A.

B.

C.

To *hold two meetings of one or two days' dur iltion during t he
three- to focr-month planning pariod. The iirst of these
meetings will be held in New York at the oirtsct of the 1Jl-n-
ning. The second will be held iii Europe, toward tlie conclusion
of the period, at the proposed site of the conferecce,

To prepare recommendations to the full council on aijenda,
speakers, and other matters.

To meet individually , between the two f ormn mce ti nqs , w I. th
three or four advisory council members from their own geo-
graphic area, to review recommendations and to ericouragc
discussion of the issue at hand, at both aci hoc and reguldrly
scheduled meetings of local proEessiona1 associatmns.

L

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IV. Role of the Institute cf International Education

The Institute's role will be to take the leadershrp in ex11i;:in

the participation of top-level scientists, social scieriti:,th, And
humanists from all over the world and of appropriate prcJt.L:;sit;r:d
associations, 2nd to provide all the facilitative servici.:, tiewssary
to plan the conference as octlined in Section 111 above.

   The Institute of International Education is a not-for-profit
New York corporation with its headquarters in New York Ct y; regional
officcs in Atlanta, Chicaqo, Washington, 3.C. , Denver, Iii ~bto:., Los
Angeles, and San Francisco; and overseas offices in Hong 1 ong, Eanyk *\,
Lima, Mexico City, and Nairobi. IIE was founded in 19:3 'td is the
ldrgest and most experienced organization in  interimti 1110 i  ed, cation; l
exchange. The Institute ' s central purposes are to f UI t her mi 1 uai I.II;':C v-
standing between the United States and other riatioris eli,d  to .w\rcliice  .
more peaceful and productiw  international order.

   IIE has planned and carried out a number of  inter;iat: ional confc- -
ences in its 57-year history. Since 1958? the Insti*
conducting annual internaticnal conferenc :C
Latin America under the aegis of the Council
American Republics (CHEAR) (. In 1968, the In
of French university rectors and U.S. co!.lege p
CllEAR model. More recently, InternativnaL Coun
have been formed in Asia anc, the Middle East
WEAR, and the Institute has conducted conferences of d univc. sity
leiiders in Manila, Hong Kong, and Kuwait, as well as L Ldtii' Ainer.r( ,

Conferences are only one part of the many ways i:i w:iich J C7C €1: LA.,

its aims. Basically, 1IE's services conslst of tlit- j, C 1l~:ti 11d. ir
change of persons, information, and skills. '!'he Tnst i ' 111 2 ~01 trdct.
with sponsorsr such as foreigr, governments, interriaticvl .I r.~ynr~ir,tti~ s
Soundations, corporations, educational j ristitiitiun:,, zt.i I I.'
centers to provide a range of specifled scsxvice.; to j E, Liv 111ii~~ a cBr
j nstitutional grantees. In the fiscal ycdr 1975, 3 Ih. ir:ciii iii s t cbrcd .
programs funded by 84 sponsors benefi tiny 9 , 140 incilvi tu,i 1.5. J.n ad
tion, the Institute uses funds donated by contrilutorr tu :,up12 )rt a
range of public service activities such as couilselinc;  rid inforrrlz,t I
services, workshops, seminars, pubblications , and 3 ik)rdi-j CE;. ' iit?se
services reached an estimatea total of 200,000 individ tal s in t~xii
1975.

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V. Funding for the Conference Itself

At the conclusion of the three- to four-month planning process

described above, IIE will be prepared to lead the operationdl phase of
the conference. Funds will be sought at this point, from foundations
and governments, to cover preparation of papers and the costs of organ-
izing and administering the conference itself. The amount needed will
depend on the design dictated by the advisory council, especially the
number of participants and the policy on reimbursement for travel.

November 16, 1976