Prof. James Giordano, PhD, is a neuroscientist, Vice President for Academic Programs and Director of the Center for Neurotechnology Studies at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.  On Wednesday, September 28, he took questions in a Live Chat forum on "Neuroscience and Neurotechnology for Prediction  and Prevention of Violence: 'Minority Report' in the Real World?"  (Click here to access Prof. Giordano's recent essay on this subject in Government Security News.)  The text of the chat is available for review and replay on our Live Event Chat page: please click here.

As Prof. Giordano  points out, the use of neuroscience and neurotechnology to identify those with the potential to become violent criminals or terrorists is gaining increasing attention and appeal.  But with this increased focus comes a host of ethical, legal and social challenges.  Furthermore, there is disagreement over when or if the technology will be sufficiently mature to provide the reliable information on which legal and/or prosecutorial action could be based.  Will we ever see the science fiction depicted in the movie "Minority Report," with its emphasis on "pre-crime detection," become a reality?  Should we pursue this possibility, or avoid it at all costs?    

For more information on Prof. Giordano, please click here.