Listen to the Event
William Alexander believed that self-experimentation contributed to the benefit of mankind, but how far would you go in search of scientific truth?
Considered risky by some and essential by others, self-experimentation has a long history in medical science. Emerging in the scientific revolution, self-experimentation became increasingly popular towards the early 20th century. From cardiology to pharmacology, there are countless examples of scientists using themselves as guinea pigs in search of answers.
Join us as we explore what motivated the practice, what was achieved through it, and what the ethical implications were.
Speakers
Professor Holger Maehle - Professor of History of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Durham University
Dr Gail Goldberg - Senior Investigator Scientist, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, MRC Human Nutrition Research Centre
Dr Duncan Wilson - Research Fellow, Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester
Chaired by Kat Arney