Societal and Economic Context

This international ISGP conference specifically addressed the social, economic, and ethical considerations of the largely scientific and technological recommendations that emerged from four earlier ISGP conferences focused on Emerging and Persistent Infectious Diseases (EPID).  Aspects of Food Safety and Security (FSS) and Synthetic Biology (SB) related to infectious diseases were also addressed at this conference.

It is important to clarify the relationship between the initial four ISGP conferences focused on EPID, FSS, and SB and this conference.  The specific areas of consensus and actionable next steps emerging from the initial four conferences offered primarily scientific and technological options to be considered by those responsible for formulating and implementing policies, both domestic and international.  Since the effectiveness of such policy decisions depends fundamentally on the degree to which they are accepted and endorsed throughout a wide range of societies and cultures, it is essential to evaluate these recommendations with respect to their foreseeable societal, economic, and ethical impact.  The public support required to effectively implement these largely scientific and technological recommendations depends directly on the societal, economic, and ethical consequences that can influence public acceptance.

The ISGP invited eight highly distinguished subject-matter experts working on social, behavioral, economic, and ethical topics to prepare the policy position papers debated at this ISGP conference.  To aid these authors, the ISGP prepared a new document that condensed all the previous recommendations into four areas of consensus and their related actionable next steps. This document, (which can be found following the introduction in the conference book below), was shared with each of the presenters as a guideline for their individual policy position papers.

Biographical information of scientific presenters

Policy Position papers

ISGP Podcast: Risky Business

Dr. Paul Slovic
Are your responses to disease risk more analytical or emotional in nature? How can disease risk be better communicated to the individuals in order t...

ISGP Podcast: If I Ran the Zoo

Dr. Jakob Zinsstag
When it comes to animal-borne diseases, emerging and recurring varieties elicit wildly different levels of public concern (Spoiler alert: people in th...

EPID: Focus on Societal and Economic Context

This book was developed by the ISGP from the policy position papers, debates, and caucuses at the Emerging and Persistent Infectious Diseases: Focus o...
This book was developed by the ISGP from the policy position papers, debates, and caucuses at the Emerging and Persistent Infectious Diseases: Focus o...

Will a Comprehensive Global Source Attribution System Provide for Cost-Effective Food Safety?

Gay Y. Miller, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Econom...

The Challenges of Implementing One Health

Laura H. Kahn, M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., F.A.C.P
Research Scholar, Program on Science and Global Security, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University Summary ...

How Can We Predict, Prevent and Pay for the Next Pandemic?

Peter Daszak (below right), Ph.D.
President, EcoHealth Alliance Summary The emergence of novel pandemics causes substantial mortality, morbidity, and economic loss. Recent anal...

Synthetic Biology: Ethical and Social Challenges

Arthur L. Caplan, Ph.D.
Division of Medical Ethics, New York University Langone Medical Center Summary The promise of synthetic biology is enormous. The technology can...

Communication Challenges in Managing Social and Economic Impacts of Emerging and Infectious Diseases

Paul Slovic, Ph.D.
President, Decision Research, Professor of Psychology, University of Oregon Summary Risk is inherently hard to understand and communicate. Analy...

Translating Technical Advances in Genomics to the Developing World: Addressing Cultural Needs as Part of Policy Making

Vanessa M. Hayes (top right), Ph.D.,
Professor of Genomic Medicine, J. Craig Venter Institute, San Diego, CA, Honorary Professor of Medical Sciences, University of Limpopo Summary T...

Solving Food Safety Problems Without Antiquated Regulation and Inspection

Richard Williams, Ph.D., M.A.
Director of Policy Research, Mercatus Center, George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Summary The United States system of ensuring food saf...