Nobel Conference

Gus Goes There

Busy city street with blurred traffic
Gus the lion
Gus Goes There is an educational video series that puts scientific discovery in conversation with ethical inquiry, and is designed for middle and high school students. With "Gus" the lion serving as tour guide, each episode explores how thinking about a particular scientific issue has evolved over time. Using footage from more than sixty years of Nobel Conference lectures, the series invites students to think critically about the ways science changes in light of new evidence, new technology and new ways of thinking about the world and our place in it. 
 
Gus "goes there," challenging students to grapple with the complex intersection of science and technology. 
Gus lion sketch on busy street

Gus Goes There episodes provide rich material for interdisciplinary learning, connecting biology, ethics, sociology, and policy studies. Students can explore how scientific capabilities raise profound questions about human identity, social justice, and the responsible use of technology. The multi-decades span of perspectives demonstrates how scientific and ethical thinking evolves alongside technological advancement.

The series draws from the prestigious Nobel Conference on Science and Ethics at Gustavus Adolphus College, which has been held annually since 1965 with endorsement from the Nobel Foundation of Sweden.  Each conference brings together interdisciplinary experts from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to examine scientific issues from multiple perspectives and assess their global ethical impacts. The conference takes place the first Tuesday and Wednesday in October on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. 

 

Gus Goes There Episodes

Climate: People and Planet

Gus Goes There—“Climate: People and Planet”— traces the evolution of thinking about our relationship to the environment and growing awareness of the profound impact that humans are having on Earth’s climate. The lectures featured in the episode span the years 1966 to 2023—a 57-year stretch of scientific research and ethical exploration.

Climate: People and Planet

Genetics: Humans and DNA

The Gus Goes There -  "Genetics: Humans and DNA" episode examines humanity's evolving relationship with genetic control and reproductive freedom. As genetic technologies advance, they offer unprecedented power to control human life, raising questions about improvement versus discrimination. The featured lectures span 52 years (1965-2017) of genetic expertise, exploring how perspectives on genetic control have evolved alongside technological capabilities.

Genetics: Humans and DNA

To Be Human: What Sets Us Apart

The Gus Goes There — “To Be Human: What Sets Us Apart” episode explores the evolution of our reflection on our uniqueness as humans. As a species, we exist in ways that both make us distinct from other species and distinct from one another as individuals. However, our understanding of human uniqueness has shifted to uplift empathy and interconnectedness over the years. The lectures featured in the episode span the years 1965 to 2024, covering nearly a six decade range of expertise on the human condition.

To Be Human: What Sets Us Apart

Learn more about the Nobel Conference

For further information, please contact the director of the Nobel Conference at nobelconference [at] gustavus.edu (nobelconference[at]gustavus[dot]edu) or visit the conference website.

 

Learn more about the Nobel Conference

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