Group X (2002 - 2004)
Technology Innovation – How is it Impacting Society?, July
22-25, 2003
A new seminar on technology innovation was added to the WRLP curriculum
in July. Co-Chairs, Andy Lewis, Professor with the Center for Community
Economic Development, UW Cooperative Extension, and Bryan Renk, Director
of Patents and Licensing for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
and an alumni of WRLP Group VI, exposed participants to a wide range
of technological issues, particularly in the health, education, and
agricultural fields.
The goal of this weeklong seminar was to help participants understand
how science and technology shape human lives and livelihoods and
how society and culture, in turn, shape the development of science
and technology. Participants were exposed to various new technologies,
engaged in discussions concerning the ethics of technology innovation,
explored leadership issues surrounding technology, and delved into
leading edge technologies and their influence in health, education
and agriculture.
Participants heard from a plethora of speakers on the political
and economic ramifications of technology in Wisconsin, the role of
the land grant university in the development of technology, ethical
issues raised by stem cell research, leadership questions that arise
due to technology, the role of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation,
and regulatory issues. James Thomson, Professor of Anatomy, UW-Madison,
and a pioneer in stem cell research, addressed the group and WRLP
friends about current stem cell research, kicking off WRLP’s
first 20th anniversary event.
The larger group of participants was split into three smaller groups
and spent one afternoon in the Madison and surrounding area visiting
with different health, agriculture and educational representatives
to gain an understanding how they as leaders are dealing with technological
advances. Using this information, each group prepared a press conference
and presented it to the larger group and a panel of media experts
who critiqued their presentation.
Dennis Deery, Mary Kay Brevig, Dan Draxler, Anne Katz, Trisha
Kempkes, delivering a press release as part of a small group exercise
during the Technology Seminar.
Valerie Hebbe and Dan Knutzen touring the Biotron Center, UW-Madison
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