Reclaiming innovation

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• Friday 4 March 2005
• 8.00pm-9.00pm
• Lecturers: Prof Gill Samuels

Concern is rising that our increasingly risk-averse society will result in a dearth of innovation, in which the precautionary principle wins out over the spirit of invention. Gill believes that, in areas where new science and new technologies are being employed, an excessive and unreasonable focus on risk, without considering benefit, is to the overall detriment of making appropriate and timely decisions on market access. In other words, this misperception of risk causes a delay in the delivery of innovation to society. Lack of optimal delineation of the benefit of, for example, a new medicine, disables decisions on what risks are worth taking, and Gill will argue that risk in medicine should be weighed against other risks in life and against the risk of non-treatment. In her opinion, the application of the precautionary principle is inappropriate for most therapeutic decisions because uncertainty is inevitable in medical science, and individual patients may suffer considerably as a result of therapeutic nihilism resulting from overemphasis on risk avoidance.

This event is part of the Friday Evening Discourse series. FEDs are only open to Ri Members and their guests. Tickets are free for Ri Members, and £12 for members' guests.

The cash bar and exhibition are open from 6.30pm. A three course supper is available at 6.30pm for £25 (including wine and coffee). You must prebook your place at least 72 hours in advance of the discourse. Alternatively you can pre-order a plate of sandwiches to collect at the bar before the discourse at a cost of £3.

This week's menu:
Starter - mozarella, tomato and fresh basil salad
Main - braised lamb steak with redcurrant jus and roast vegetables; olive oil mash, roasted spring onions
Dessert - apple tart with clotted cream