International Conference – Existential Threats and Other Disasters: How Should We Address Them

Event recap: The CUHK Centre for Bioethics celebrates a successful conclusion in Paris!

The international conference Existential Threats and Other Disasters: Novel (Bio)ethical Solutions for Novel Challenges (11–12 June, Reid Hall, Paris) took place — and we’re proud to have been a co-host alongside The Center for the Study of Bioethics, The Hastings Center for Bioethics, and Columbia University Bioethics.

Bringing together over a dozen world-renowned scholars, the conference tackled some of the most urgent questions of our time: from AI governance and existential risk to moral psychology, technological power, and the future of human flourishing.

Highlights from our team:

Day 1 (11 June)
➢ Prof. Roger Chung (Centre Co-Director):
⬩ Delivered opening remarks alongside Prof. Vojin Rakic, Prof. Vardit Ravitsky, and Prof. Robert Klitzman.

⬩ Served as a moderator for Anders Sandberg (University of Oxford), Ingmar Persson (Gothenburg University), Nicholas Agar (The University of Waikato), and Toby Ord (University of Oxford).

Day 2 (12 June)
➢ Prof. Roger Chung:
Delivered the Closing Keynote — Facing Existential Threats with Our Whole Selves — reflecting on how holistic, values‑based approaches can strengthen our response to global crises. He also moderated a session by Dr. Anders Sandberg (Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University) on "Hinges of History and of Technology," exploring critical turning points in technological development.

➢ Dr. Weian Zhong (Assistant Lecturer at the Centre):
Presented Euthanasia, Absolute Duties, and Moral Permission, examining the ethical tensions between absolute moral obligations and the permissibility of assisted dying in contemporary bioethics.

Beyond the podium, our Centre took active steps to deepen global ties through close exchanges with fellow scholars from around the world, including Karine Lefeuvre, Vice President of the French National Advisory Ethics Council for Health and Life Sciences (Comité Consultatif National d'Éthique pour les sciences de la vie et de la santé (CCNE)).

The CUHK Centre for Bioethics commits to promoting the global bioethics dialogue and bringing critical insights to such discussions — right in the heart of Paris and beyond.

Click the icons to explore our impact⬇️

Photo Gallery

More Conference photos are available [here].

Join Global Experts to Address Existential Threats and Ethical Solutions at the Paris Bioethics Conference!

We are excited to announce the upcoming international conference: “Existential Threats and Other Disasters: Novel (Bio)ethical Solutions for Novel Challenges”, hosted by The Center for the Study of Bioethics in partnership with The Hastings Center for Bioethics, CUHK Centre for Bioethics, and Columbia University’s Master of Bioethics Program.

As science and technology continue to advance, they present both familiar and new ethical challenges. In today’s evolving geopolitical landscape – including the spread of armed conflict and environmental destruction – the need for renewed ethical scrutiny is more urgent than ever.

Join us for this interdisciplinary event, “Existential Threats and Other Disasters: Novel (Bio)ethical Solutions for Novel Challenges” to be held in Paris on 11-12 June 2026, which will feature keynote lectures, paper presentations, and panel discussions on existential risks and ethical strategies for mitigation, as well as on the potential for scientific and technological innovations for human flourishing.

🗓️ 11 and 12 June 2026	📍 Reid Hall, Paris, France
📃 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS (Click here)	🎤 Keynote Speakers (Click here)

Conference Themes and Key Questions

Submit Now

For more information, please visit The conference website:

International Conference – Existential Threats and Other Disasters: How Should We Address Them