Science Cafe: “We are scientists" - or are we? Science and international law

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The Swansea Science Cafe offers opportunities for anyone to find out more about new, exciting and topical areas of science in an informal and entertaining way.

Title: “We are scientists" - or are we? Science and international law

Speaker: Dr Richard Caddell of Swansea University

Date: Wednesday 26th February 2014

Time: 7:30pm

Venue: The Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea

Admission: Free, all welcome

One of the most controversial questions currently being decided by the International Court of Justice is the legality of lethal scientific whaling carried out by Japan for research purposes. This has attracted international condemnation, violent counter-activism and accusations that it is a smokescreen for commercial whaling in defiance of the global ban on hunting.

Dr Caddell will discuss if such research programmes can be considered scientifically valid under international law. In looking at the Antarctic whaling controversy he will consider the current legal understanding of what types of "science" are considered legitimate and how "scientific" international institutions ought to be in their decision-making processes.

Dr Caddell will also address one of the more contentious questions raised by the case - what is "science" for the purposes of international law, and on what basis can a person be legitimately considered a "scientist"?

Contact details: http://swansea.ac.uk/science/swanseasciencecafe/

About Science Cafe Wales

Each month, a leading expert in their field will give a brief introductory talk followed by a friendly informal chat. You can sit back, relax with a drink and listen or get involved in the discussion and debate. The Science Café organisers are committed to promoting public engagement with science and to making science accountable.

Science Café Wales are held in casual settings in Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor. They are informal and accessible and entrance is entirely free. They usually start with a short talk from the speaker, usually a scientist or writer, followed by a quick break and then an hour or so of discussion afterwards.

Previous topics have included dark matter, the common cold, Dr Who, the Big Bang and alternative therapies.

The first Cafes Scientifiques in the UK were held in Leeds in 1998. From there cafés gradually spread across the country.

Currently, some 40 or so cafés meet regularly to hear scientists or writers on science talk about their work and discuss it with diverse audiences.