Prof. Temple presented a lecture for students and faculty on “Eco-ethical problems of GMO: danger for biodiversity and agro-ecological aspects”. This lecture Prof. Temple made a detailed comparative analysis of the risks and benefits of GMOs on the example of salmon and golden rice. He stated that when the risks of a GMO product to the environment or human health issubstantially less, than benefits, there are no apparent obstacles to producing it. But Prof. Temple concluded that he, as a scientist, is looking for truths, does not make absolutely-definitive statements, but opens the question for reflection and listeners’ own conclusions. Prof. Temple is not only a scientist, but also a priest of the Roman Catholic Churchin the Order of the Carmelites.
Presented “for” and “against” stances concerning the production and use of GMO crops and fish. Students had the opportunity to think about important problemsconnected with GMO after the lecture. Mykhailo Bilanych (member of the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies) reported on the theme “Lent for protection of God’s Creation – Nature”. The Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies (in cooperation with Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe) coordinates environmental activities of Christian Churches. The Institute explores opportunities for the Christian Churches to have an impact on conservation of the environment, and on environmental education. Such opportunities includesermons (with moral components of a caring attitude to the natural environment), and catechesis (an understanding of the teaching of the Church and the formation of a Christian faith from childhood). One way in which anyone can join the preservation of the environment is fasting during the Christian Lent, as well as fasting in other religions in the world.
After the lectures, there was a very interesting excursion through scientific and educational laboratories of the university. This microbioclone laboratory, where orchids, blackberries, lemons are grown from small pieces of meristem tissue in special sterile conditions. In addition,an open soil exploratory sites with its many layers was examined.
Together with Prof. Tetyana Dyman (Vice-Rector on Educational and International Work) we had negotiations concerning further cooperation. http://btsau.edu.ua/uk/content/vizyt-profesora-z-genetyky-metyu-templa-nazaret-koledzh-ssha