An interdisciplinary seminar analyzes examples of big data applied to health sciences

Studying specific cases of how big data are used in the field of science in Catalonia and other countries is one of the objectives of the XI International Seminar on the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, to take place on February 16 at the Faculty of Law of the University of Barcelona. Ethical, legal and social aspects of the subject, in particular the parts that are related to scientific integrity and privacy, will be the focus of the seminar, organized by the Bioethics and Law Observatory (OBD)- UNESCO Chair on Bioethics of the UB with the collaboration of the Vice-Rector’s Office for Research of the University of Barcelona.

The opening speech will be given by Sarah Chan, from the Usher Institute of the University of Edinburgh. Expert on scientific research’s ethics, Sarah Chan will show different experiences of big data in health science in Europe. The opening ceremony will be chaired by the Rector of the UB, Joan Elias, with the participation of Ton Hol, member of the thematic group on scientific integrity of the League of European Research Universities (LERU); the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Xavier Pons, and the Director of the Bioethics and Law Observatory (OBD) – UNESCO Chair on Bioethics of the UB, María Casado.

Afterwards there will be a roundtable to touch on topics such as big data on human genomics and food safety or the challenges in big data at the Clinic Hospital of Barcelona. In the afternoon there will be lectures on the guidelines of the European Council in relation to this subject and several LERU representatives will analyze the subject of scientific integrity and big data.