Bioethics deals with questions raised with respect to the beginning of life as well as those at the end of life. This covers a broad spectrum. "UNESCO, as a worldwide organisation, exemplary promotes the internationalisation of the bioethics debate and supports it with own programs", explains Druml.
During the past decades, science and research have led to an immense further development in medicine and life sciences and have raised many new societal issues. Bioethics deals in discussing these issues and raising answers. "Science and research are not an end in itself; human beings and their well-being are in the focus", explains Druml; "by quickly utilising new therapies, ethically superior research can reduce the suffering of patients, is an indicator of modernity and secures jobs and prosperity in times of economic crisis."
Thus, the cultural heritage of the Medical University Vienna, Austrian medical history and current ethical issues of modern research are combined under the joint roof of the Josephinum. Also institutions in Africa and Asia involved in teaching and research are partners in this new bioethics chair.
The UNESCO chairs
The UNITWIN/UNESCO chairs program was created in 1992 in order to anchor the issues of UNESCO at the universities. It promotes the research, education and development of university through the formation of university networks and inter-university, border-transcending cooperation. Today, there are more than 600 UNESCO chairs worldwide, seven of those in Austria.