The process of discussion and the forming of an opinion are difficult in the field of genetic engineering and biotechnology. Controversies, insecurity and high emotionality characterise the public discussion. It seems like traditional models of orientation are not adequate to handle with the commercialisation of genetic engineering. Even experts hold different points of view. At the same time the development of application of biotechnology is proceeding. Everybody is more and more confronted with situations, which demand an individual decision, for example as a consumer in the supermarket or by deciding about prenatal tests as parents expecting a child.

The project “INFOgen” was established by the IFZ in 1997, the year of the “petition for a referendum against genetic engineering“ (“Gentechnikvolksbegehren”) and is financed exclusively by public funding.

The main aim of INFOgen is to support the opinion shaping process by offering unbiased information and providing opportunities for a constructive discussion of the manifold aspects in the context of biotechnology. This is our contribution to call the publics attention to the complex topic of genetic engineering and to foster the dialogue between all parties involved.

With this interest INFOgen offers basic-knowledge, balanced information about applications as well as about legal, social and ethical aspects of modern biotechnology with a main focus on food-production, agriculture and medicine. We organise events (e. g. discussion groups, lectures, vocational training), provide information material, answer individual questions via e-mail or phone, and procure experts to answer specialized questions or to give talks.

Our experiences of several years of work were used to set up a comprehensive and user-friendly webpage for an open-door access to the services of “INFOgen”. The visitors can find actual announcements of lectures, seminars and other events related to biotechnology, monthly updated short-facts, a collection of articles and essays about the topic, and a collection of other interesting web-links. The online-databases contain selected articles, books and teaching materials, which are available to copy at the IFZs library.

Another focus is the planning and the realization of arrangements for further training of specific professional-groups on the topic of gene- and biotechnology. In this context we provide topics including perspectives on scientific unsolved questions, ethical and socio-political issues, which are tailored on the needs an interests of the addressed professional group.

INFOgen is furthermore participating in a Grundtvig-project funded by the European Community. „GEnFOOD – InfoNet“ was set up with partners from Finnland, Slovenia, Germany and Austria to share experiences in the field of bioscience communication and education in the broadest sense. The goal of this activities network is to present, discuss and evaluate different communication and education practices to improve the quality of our work.