Neuroscience and the Future of Chemical-Biological Weapons (Global Issues) - Hardcover

Dando, Malcolm

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1137381817 ISBN 13: 9781137381811

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015

Synopsis

This study is concerned with the potential misuse of advances in neuroscience. Recently, fears surrounding the abuse of benignly-intended research in the life sciences - the dual-use problem - have focused on 'Gain-of Function' experiments, in which deadly influenza viruses have been made transmissible through the air. However, many other aspects of the life sciences, besides the study of viruses, could be subject to hostile misuse. There is a century-long history of the development of novel neuroweapons, which is based on civil research and a vast, ongoing increase in research funding. These developments underpin an attempt to produce a mechanistic understanding of brain functions, which risk being subjected to misuse in the future. This study does not propose that this benignly-intended work be reined in, nor suggest that neuroscientists bear the sole responsibility for preventing the misuse of their work. However, they remain inextricably involved and should, one could argue, assume a certain level of accountability. Thus, this book sheds light on how they, and international security specialists, can work to bolster efforts to minimise the potential for misuse of modern neuroscience research.

About this title

Review:

''The justified excitement about modern brain science should also come with a warning label. That's what Malcolm Dando has given us in this timely, powerful and deeply informed book.'' Jonathan D. Moreno, University of Pennsylvania, USA

''Chemical and biological weapons and their intersection require an understanding of the science and the international policy banning them. Non-scientists will value his clear explanation of brain science. Neuroscientists will understand why their work merits scrutiny for weapons implications. All of us will benefit by Dando's singular contribution to why we should be worried and why we must act now.'' Marie Isabelle Chevrier, Rutgers University-Camden, USA

About the Author:

Professor Dando studied Zoology at St Andrews University and, after post-doctoral research in the United States, held fellowships in Operational Research at the University of Sussex that were funded by the Ministry of Defence. At the University of Bradford he has worked on disarmament and arms control issues, particularly in regard to biological and chemical weapons, since 1993. He is a Fellow of the UK Society of Biology.

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1137381817
• ISBN 13: 9781137381811
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 205