Some aspects of the Australian identity find their expression
in controversial areas of science and technology. Our long history of
agriculture over the vast Australian rural landscape, built on the
efforts of fiercely independent farmers, has given many of us a sense of
personal independence, a can-do and hard work ethic and a sophisticated
understanding of the importance of innovation to our productive
capacity. It has also given us a deep love of our natural environment.
These identities now come in to conflict over the genetic revolution,
where opinions range from an insistence that genetic modification of
foods should be banned to arguments that the new technologies are
guarantors of our future wellbeing. The choices we make not only reflect
the struggle between these competing identities but may also in part
define our future identity. In this discussion, we will hear from a
group of eminent genetics researchers about the potential and
limitations of the contribution that genetic modification can make and
the role that Australian science researchers should play in meeting our
future food and power needs.