Summary Of Four Roundtable Discussion

Summary Of Roundtable Discussion
During the roundtable discussion, there are four topics being assigned respectively.
Group 4: By discussing the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid engine vehicles(HEV), group 4 focused on whether it is benefit or not to use HEV to mitigate the climate change. The side which support promoting HEV provides the benefits of HEV. Firstly, HEV is environmentally friendly for the less consumption of fossil fuel cut down the emission of CO2 comparing to the conventional vehicle. Then, the opponents argued that applying HEV will cause a large amount on initial cost. They claimed that HEV is not economic beneficial. Furthermore, by providing the increasing price of petrol, the supporting side rebutted that HEV could save quite a lot of money afterwards. Moreover, the opposite side argued that the problem of cost will limit the adoption of HEV. And also, HEV is not a way to directly solve the problem of climate change because it cannot decrease the amount of CO2 rapidly like carbon dioxide capture and storage.
Group 3: This group debated on the topic of regulations on the use of brain scan technology. This supporting side firstly raise the view that the use of such technology would violate a person's privacy since it is able to predict what is the person thinking of. On top of this idea, the opponents rebutted that it would be too troublesome for either the government or institution to regulate. After that, the supporting team argued that based on the previous opinion, young children would be send for brain tests to see if he or she is capable of attending certain courses by their parents and this would trigger some ethic issues. Hence, the opposite side raised that there are still too much uncertainties now since the brain scan technology is still in the infancy stage and is not mature enough. Therefore, it would be impossible to regulate it at this point of time.
Group 2: The third group of discussed the topic of the green chemistry in this contemporary era. The for side of supported that Singapore should take advantage of green chemistry in its own region, and this is an opportunity to enrich the field of green chemistry industry. However, the opponents argued that Singapore is facing population shortage and the current economic crisis will not get Singapore more benefit to apply this green chemistry as the pioneer. They thought that Singapore would need other models of success in green chemistry from overseas to follow. Then, the supporting side provided that Singapore has the industrial capacity and technology capability in this area. Finally they give the conclusive idea which is Singapore should take the challenge as the opportunity to apply green chemistry.
Group 1: The last group of the roundtable discussion session was assigned the topic of stem cell technology on research and applications. The supporting team taking the stem cell research is beneficial since it can provide medical technology. For example, using stem cell technology to clone organ could provide organ transmission. This gives the chance to mitigate the time that patients need to wait. However, the opponents argued on the moral issues. They oppose the stem cell technology for reproducing cell is a technology to change the right of life of every creature. It is beyond the right limitation of human being.