The course has a broad definition of Bioethics, covering use of modern and traditional biotechnology, genetechnology as well as environmental assessment and management. It covers the Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects (ELSA) of biotechnology and environmental sciences.

Lectures will be held intensively for the first week of the course with the following topics: 1: Legislation. 2: Risk assessment and consequence analyses. 3: Ethics and ethical evaluations.

Guest lecturers from the Biotechnology Advisory board will participate

Following an assignment seminar, during the rest of the course, the students will write a semester assignment on a subject of their own choice.

Knowledge:

Students should get acquainted with the legislation in the field and their applications. Since the legislation requires consequence and risk evaluation as well as ethical argumentation, this must also be known to the students. The students will be given insight into the most important ethical theories , principles and dilemmas linked to biotechnology and environmental management.

Skills:

Students are to be capable of holding a discussion on the ethical and social consequences of the use of modern biotechnology in the way it is required in cases of applications linked to,field experiments using   genetically modified organisms or for conducting research on genetic engineering.Students will be able to identify relevant ethical arguments and values linked to assessment of biotechnology and environmental protection

General competence:

Students should be acquainted with the methods used, the application and possibilities, conflicts of interests, and the discussion about science and politics related to this issues. The students should therefore have an understanding of the rationale behind the legislation and the application of the relevant theories, laws and acts. .