The Immortality Institute International Conference 2010 was a fast-paced information-packed weekend with many high-profile speakers from all over, with the vast majority of speakers and attendees being scientists with some focus on immortality.
Interestingly, as the Immortality Institute has periodically (about every six months since its inception in 2002, as new members bring it up, and they have a very democratic system) considered changing its name to something that doesn't involve the word "Immortality" as they consider it sounds to scientifically implausible, Dr. Michael Rose (one of the speakers) fielded a question on this topic (in other words, his opinion was asked, as he seems to use the word "immortality" quite comfortably and he is a very respected hard scientist).
His answer? An extract, after his mentioning of the fact that there are technically biologically immortal humans already alive today (that is, anyone over the age of 95), upon being asked about the scientific use of the word "immortality":
"To me the scientific mention of immortality is a completely legitimate one because you can see biologically immortal organisms; if you go to the seaside you can see sea anemones, or you can go to the Mojave desert in California; saying that that's somehow not something we're allowed to discuss reminds me of the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church, the Inquisition, persecuting Galileo, who presented evidence for Copernicus's heliocentric theory of the solar system."
- Prof. Dr. Michael Rose
Professor & Director of NERE, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, British Commonwealth Scholar, 1976-1979, NATO Science Fellow, 1979-1981, NSERC of Canada University Research Fellow, 1981-1988, Winner of President's Prize (with others) American Society of Naturalists, 1992, Winner of Excellence in Teaching Award, UCI Biological Sciences, 1996, Winner of Busse Prize, World Congress of Gerontology, 1997, Etc.
As usual, I made a presentation regarding EUCRIO. It was filmed, and can be seen here:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/10115880
(Jump to 1:10 to see the EUCRIO presentation - be warned that the video quality is poor and there is an annoying advert first, provided by the video host)
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