The Daily Pennsylvanian
As part of President Amy Gutmann's inaugural symposium, "Improving Lives by Investing in Science and Medicine" panelists challenged the audience to consider which world leader carried a Y-chromosome that is now present in approximately one in every 200 men.
While the reproductivity of Mongol Emperor Ghengis Khan did not dominate the discussion, the six panel members did examine a variety of imminent global health- and science-related issues, as well as the moral and ethical implications they hold.
Each panelist spoke individually about a specific issue related to his or her own field, then moved to a group discussion based on audience questions.
Overarching themes included the integration of various medical fields and the role that universities assume in creating a model for national and global engagement in medicine.
Panelist and Nursing professor Mary Naylor stressed health-related issues as a primary contributor to an increasingly connected world.
"When it comes to health care, no one is immune," she said. "We are all part of a borderless global society."
However, panelist and Biology professor David Roos said the interconnectedness of society derives from advancements in science and the meshing of inter-disciplinary fields.
"Changes in science mirror the changes that we see in society in general," he said. "For better or for worse, we live in an increasingly integrated society."
The integration of health-related professions linked many of the speakers' statements, as did panelists' reassertion of Gutmann's promise that Penn must realize its full potential as a leader in science research and health care.
Panelist and Chemistry professor Michael Klein said universities are a primary source of national research.
"The research enterprise in the United States, unlike in other countries, is multifaceted. It consists of academia, ... labs and industry."
Audience members agreed with the emphasis panelists placed on education as a force for broadening the scientific field.
"I was very glad that someone brought up science education," said Katherine Rohrer, vice provost for academic programs at Princeton University and a longtime colleague of Gutmann. "Very few undergraduates are involved with science now ... and the United States needs to be providing more science and medical researchers."
