Venue/Location: Bagdad Theater, 3702 Southeast Hawthorne Blvd, Phone: (503) 467-7521
Date: Monday, March 5, 2012 - 7:00 PM
OMSI Science Pub:
Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food
Presenter: Dr. Lisa H. Weasel, associate professor of biology at Portland State University
Admission: $5.00 suggested cover charge
21 and over, or minor with adult
Americans have been eating genetically modified foods for more than a decade, yet the controversy surrounding them continues, both here and abroad. From Oregon ballot measures to World Trade Organization battles to issues of hunger and food security in developing countries, the topic of GM food has raised scientific and ethical questions and concerns. The approval of several new GM crops such as sugar beets and alfalfa in 2011, as well as the pending approval of GM salmon, continues to capture consumer attention.
At this Science Pub, we’ll talk about the real-life experiences and wide-ranging perspectives of the scientists, farmers, policymakers, and grassroots activists on the front lines of this fierce debate, going beyond the hype to address the current questions and answers surrounding genetically modified foods.
Dr. Lisa H. Weasel is an associate professor of biology at Portland State University, and is the author of Food Fray. Dr. Weasel’s current research interests are centered on the social dimensions of science and technology, particularly ethics and equity issues relating to the life sciences. Her scholarly work encompasses a broad range of interdisciplinary topics: feminist science studies and gender equity; public engagement with science; and the relationship between food, democracy, and sustainability.