Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer discuss their new book, The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village (Doubleday, 2011), with Joseph Planta.

The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village by Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer. (Doubleday, 2011) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

It’s an unfortunate reality that our world sees alarming disparities between the developed and developing world, the First and the Third World to use somewhat archaic terms. In terms of life expectancy alone those in the West can expect to live into their 80s, while those in the developing world barely make it past 40. There’s been much advancement in medicine, what with designer drugs and treatments for diseases unheard of a decade or two ago, not to mention genetic research that’s looking at our DNA, as well as biotechnology with regards to genetically modified crops. Joining me now to wade through all of these issues of ethics and morality, science and technology are Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer. They are the authors of a new book, its premise is rather simple, but it’s also challenges how we look at ourselves and each other, with its thought provoking ideas on how to remedy the inequities. The book is called The Grandest Challenge: Taking Life-Saving Science from Lab to Village. The doctors Daar and Singer are at the forefront of all this biotechnology and are passionate about saving millions of lives. Dr. Abdallah Daar is a Professor of Public Health Sciences and of Surgery at the University of Toronto, and Director of Ethics and Commercialization at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health. He is also Chief Science and Ethics Officer of Grand Challenges Canada. Dr. Peter Singer is the Director of the same McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, and is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada. Both have advised many governmental and non-governmental organisations. The book is published by Doubleday. Please welcome in Toronto this day to the Planta: On the Line program, Dr. Abdallah Daar and Dr. Peter Singer; Good morning, Dr. Singer; and good morning, Dr. Daar.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (24.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS