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YREC – Young Peoples’ Research Ethics Committees

2006 Conference

The YREC project seeks to engage young people in thinking critically about science and citizenship. The poster summarises the aims and strategies involved in the project.

The project will work to:

  • encourage quality debate about controversial scientific developments and to help teachers support their students when discussing the social and ethical implications that arise;
  • prepare the young people for decision making within a structured committee framework whilst encouraging critical and constructive debate about the strengths and weakness of the current system and any suggestions for alternatives that the children may have;
  • teach the young people about biomedical science by engagement with the distinct and difficult ethical dilemmas presented by rapidly developing medicines and treatments;
  • show parents, peers and teachers how decisions are made in the governance of biomedical research;
  • illustrate to scientists and REC members the value of listening to young people’s views about practice and priorities of medical research.

 Wider ranging aims of the Young REC project include:

  • working with scientists for discussion with young people about ethical issues;
  • producing teaching and learning resources in collaboration with students and teachers that are useful for schools beyond the project;
  • producing training resources, in collaboration with scientists and REC members, for use nationally;
  • exploring with students how their voices might be heard in the future, both locally and nationally.
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