"Science and Public Welfare"

The History and Philosophy of Science Undergraduate Society at the University of Toronto is thrilled to announce that registration for the 7th Annual Undergraduate STMS Conference is now open! You may register following this link: https://forms.gle/fJQYLDrDXNx1uuox7

Our conference theme this year is "Science and Public Welfare", and we are featuring exceptional work from more than 20 undergraduate students around the world, a keynote address from Dr. Erika Dyck on the incorporation of psychedelic drugs in modern medicine, as well as a panel on law and public welfare.

Science impacts every aspect of our lives and has long been viewed as a public good. However, the relationship between science and society is complex and multifaceted. Scientific developments and their technological counterparts have created both new solutions and new problems for the public. How has the increased presence of science and technology in our everyday lives impacted mental, social, economic, political, environmental, and physical health? How have scientific and technological advancements created new problems for the Earth, and can science help us avoid the impending climate crisis? What ethical issues arise when we avail ourselves of powerful science-based technologies, such as prenatal genetic screening? How do agricultural developments such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) affect long-term crop health, and how do we weigh problematic environmental impacts against positive impacts on food availability? How do psychiatric and other medical diagnoses shape our self-image as well as social conceptions of normality and abnormality? Have advanced military and surveillance technologies contributed more towards public safety or a state of vulnerability? Make sure to register for the 2023 STMS conference to find out more about these and other interesting topics about science and public welfare!

The conference will be held fully online across March 23rd and March 24th, 2023, and registration is free for all attendees. For more information on presentation topics, paper abstracts, and previous STMS conferences, be sure to view our official conference webpage. 

We thank the IHPST, HPSUS, Victoria College, and ASSU for their continued sponsorship and support in us carrying out this conference.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Ava Spurr at:  ava.spurr@mail.utoronto.ca.