Neuroethics beyond traditional media

Abstract

Brain science is vital to help us understand how the brain works and identify brain disease treatments. Fast technological advances are opening doors to clinical and nonclinical applications which may affect our health as well as different aspects of our society, from education to business and criminal justice. The scope, benefits, and risks of new technologies and therapies are still uncertain, but they raise crucial ethical, social, and legal issues which involve people from all walks of life. Citizens need to acquire the competences to make informed choices and contribute to decision-making processes which may be critical for their life and the society they want to live in. To this aim, several activities have been promoted over the last decade at the European level, thanks to key players such as the European Commission and the European Dana Alliance for the Brain. This chapter describes in detail some major European initiatives which have used different approaches beyond traditional media to raise public awareness and engagement in neuroscience and neuroethics, providing sound information, fostering multidisciplinary debates and participation to policy-making processes. These include European projects, such as Brains in Dialogue, Meeting of Minds and Decide, and many activities promoted by the European Dana Alliance for the Brain. Some impediments still exist for a true dialogue and a real involvement of citizens in decision-making processes; however, some successful approaches, ranging from public events to social media, have been identified and could be developed and investigated further.