The European Initiative for Biotechnology Education (EIBE), in conjunction with the University of Limerick, has produced a CDROM to educate people on biotechnology issues. It looks at a wide range of topics including GM foods, human genetics and transgenics. The CD-ROM is the completion of over three years' work and had a development budget of more than £250,000. It is available free to the public and to schools.
It is hoped that the CD-ROM will help educate the public on this hot issue and allow more informed public debate. The EIBE, an EU Commission-funded body, seeks to promote skills, enhance understanding and facilitate public debate through improved bio technology education in schools and colleges. It has a multi-disciplinary network of experts working in biotechnology education, drawn from 27 centres in 18 countries.
The units on the CD-ROM are also available free on the Internet and will be regularly updated, according to PhD researcher Mr Shane Morris, who is studying public attitudes to biotechnology and contributes to the work of the centre.
Those seeking more information can access the website on www.ul.ie/biotech or contact Shane.Morris@ul.ie