Processed by: Caroline Harvey, Student Worker, and Laurel Rozema,
Archivist,
Special Collections
Repository
Special Collections, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, Va.
Collection Number
RG 15/27/1
Title
Records of the Choices and Challenges Forum, ca. 1985-2003
Physical Characteristics
16.81 Cubic Feet;
18 boxes and 4 reels
Creator
Zallen, Doris T.
Creator
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Science and Technology Studies Department
Language
English
Abstract
The Records of the Choices and Challenges Forum contain
correspondence, meeting notes, articles, plays, advertisements, grant applications and
reports, videos, audio tapes, and more from the development of the first 22 Choices and
Challenges fora, from 1985 to 2003. The Choices and Challenges Forum at Virginia Tech was
founded in 1985 by Doris Zallen, who served as its director until 2003. Each forum addresses
the ethical and social issues created by advances in science, technology, and
medicine.
Permission to publish material from Records of the Choices and Challenges Forum must be
obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Records of the Choices and Challenges Forum, RG 15/27/1, Special Collections, Virginia
Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Acquisition Information
The Records of the Choices and Challenges Forum was transferred to Special Collections in
July 2018. Additional materials were transferred in May and June 2019.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Records of the Choices and Challenges
Forum was completed in October 2018. The processing, arrangement, and description of
additional materials was completed in September 2019.
Appraisal
Several items were removed from the collection and destroyed: duplicate items, empty
photo envelopes and zip drive holder, blank and unused CDs and audiocassette tapes,
software program CDs and instruction booklets, and an AV cord.
The Choices and Challenges Forum at Virginia Tech was founded in 1985 by Doris Zallen, who
served as its director until 2003. Each forum addresses the ethical and social issues
created by advances in science, technology, and medicine. The fora also examine the
historical, philosophical, societal, and legal components.
The Records of the Choices and Challenges Forum contain correspondence, meeting notes,
articles, plays, advertisements, grant applications and reports, videos, audio recordings,
and more from the development of the first 22 Choices and Challenges fora, from 1985 to
2003.
The records are divided into eight series, subdivided by forum: I. Doris Zallen, director
files, ca. 1985-2003; II. Photographs, 1985-2003; III. Videos, 1985-2002; IV. Audiocassette
Tapes, 1985-1989; and V. CDS, 1992-2001; VI. Floppy Disks, 1992-2003; VII. Posters,
1985-2003; VIII Teleconference Transcripts 1992-1997.
In the first series, Doris Zallen, director files, ca. 1985-2003, each forum files contains
folders devoted to forum planning (with notes or items from the planning process), pre-forum
publicity, correspondence related to planning and publicity, and items related to the
awarding of continuing-education credits to doctors or other professionals. Additional
material pertains to speakers and session leaders, such as CVs and correspondence, and to
post-forum activities, including articles and evaluations. Some fora include materials
related to teleconferencing, outreach, lessons plans, and other activities.
The second series, Photographs, 1985-2003, document forums 1-19 and 21-22.
The third series, Videos, 1985-2002, contains videocassettes and film reels from local tv
programs, and the different panels at forums 1, 6, 8-19, and 21.
The fourth series, Audiocassette Tapes, 1985-1989, consists of audiocassettes of the
different panels from forums 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, and 15-18. This series also includes
miscelaneous tapes in the "various tapes" file.
The fifth series, CDs, 1992-2001, contains Choices and Challenges website back ups and
files from different fora.
The sixth series, Floppy Disks, 1992-2003, contain files from various fora.
The seventh series, Posters, 1985-2003, has forum posters as well as a poster about the
project, "The Choices and Challenges Project - exploring the social and ethical dimensions
of science and technology," from in between the 20th and 21st fora.
The last series, Teleconference Transcripts, 1992-1997, contian five transcripts for
various forums.
Series I. Doris Zallen, director files, ca.
1985-2003
box-folder 1 folder: 1
Precursor to Choices and Challenges Forum [Science & Morality series,
Nazareth College, Rochester, NY]
box-folder 1 folder: 2
Selection of the Choices and Challenges Logo
box-folder 1 folder: 3
Final Report
Scope and Content
Grant application and reports to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) for
forums #1 thru #4
Forum 1: New Reproductive Options, 1985-02-28
box-folder 1 folder: 4
Eval #1, Preprogram and Publicity
box-folder 1 folder: 5
Speaker Information and Correspondance
box-folder 1 folder: 6
Materials from C+C #1
box-folder 1 folder: 7
Post Program Reports and Activities
Forum 2: Weapons in Space, 1985-05-23
box-folder 1 folder: 8
Publicity
box-folder 1 folder: 9
Choices and Challenges Weapons in Space, 1985-05
box-folder 1 folder: 10
Weapons in Space Speakers, 1985
box-folder 1 folder: 11
Post Forum and Follow Up
Forum 3: Scientific and Technological Literacy, 1985-09-30
box-folder 1 folder: 12
Speaker Info and Correspondence
box-folder 1 folder: 13
Scientific and Technological Literacy, 1985-09-30
box-folder 1 folder: 14
Session Summaries and Handouts
box-folder 1 folder: 15
Post Forum and Follow-up
Forum 4: Limits to Care - The Aged and Terminally Ill, 1985-11-20
box-folder 1 folder: 16
Limits to Care - Pre-program Publicity
box-folder 1 folder: 17
Limits to Care - Special Information and Correspondence
box-folder 1 folder: 18
Speakers
box-folder 1 folder: 19
Limits to Care - Summaries of Sessions and Handouts
box-folder 1 folder: 20
Limits to Care Transcript
box-folder 1 folder: 21
Limits to Care - Post Program Articles and Activities
box-folder 1 folder: 22
Choices and Challenges, 1986
Scope and Content
Grant application and reports for forums #5 thru #7 for the Virginia Foundation for
the Humanities (VFH)
Forum 5: New Coal Mining and Combustion Technologies, 1986-04-04
box-folder 1 folder: 23
Publicity and Planning
box-folder 1 folder: 24
Speaker Information
box-folder 1 folder: 25
Handouts and Transcripts
box-folder 1 folder: 26
Post-Forum
Forum 6: Intelligence Testing, 1986-09-30
box-folder 1 folder: 27
Publicity and Planning
box-folder 1 folder: 28
Speaker Information
box-folder 1 folder: 29
IQ Testing, Handouts, and Summary
box-folder 1 folder: 30
Post-Forum Activities
Forum 7: Genetic Engineering, 1986-11-20
box-folder 2 folder: 1
Publicity
box-folder 2 folder: 2
Speaker and Presenter Information and Correspondence
box-folder 2 folder: 3
Handouts
box-folder 2 folder: 4
Post-Forum Follow-Up, Activities, Assessment
box-folder 2 folder: 5
1987 Final Report, 1987
Scope and Content
Grant application and reports to Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH)
Forum 8: Nuclear Power and Space Science, 1987-05-01
box-folder 2 folder: 6
Pre-Forum Activities
box-folder 2 folder: 7
Nuclear Power - Space Science
box-folder 2 folder: 8
Nuclear Power and Space Science Post-Forum
Forum 9: New Reproductive-Control Options, 1987-10-01
box-folder 2 folder: 9
Anti-Reproductive Options
box-folder 2 folder: 10
Speakers and Correspondence
box-folder 2 folder: 11
Handouts and Follow-Up
Forum 10: Altering the Aging Process, 1988-04-14
box-folder 2 folder: 12
GTE Grant
box-folder 2 folder: 13
Process, Planing, and Publicity
box-folder 2 folder: 14
Speaker Information and Correspondence
box-folder 2 folder: 15
Handouts and Seminars
box-folder 2 folder: 16
Teleconference Materials and Evaluations
box-folder 2 folder: 17
Post-Program Follow-Up
Forum 11: High-Temperature Superconductors, 1988-10-26
box-folder 2 folder: 18
Pre-Program Publicity and Planning
box-folder 2 folder: 19
Speaker Information and Correspondence
box-folder 2 folder: 20
Handouts and Follow-Up
box-folder 2 folder: 21
Teleconference and Evaluations
Forum 12: The Pesticide Dilemma, 1989-11-29
box-folder 2 folder: 22
Final Report 1989
box-folder 2 folder: 23
Pre-Program Planning and Publicity
box-folder 2 folder: 24
PBS Materials,Teleconference
box-folder 2 folder: 25
Introduction, Speaker Notes, Handouts
box-folder 2 folder: 26
Speakers, Session Leaders, Correspondence
box-folder 2 folder: 27
Discussion Groups at Virginia Tech
box-folder 2 folder: 28
Background Materials
Forum 13: Food Fights: Dietary Alterations and Disease Prevention, 1990-04-19
box-folder 3 folder: 1
Meeting Notes and Pre-Program Publicity
box-folder 3 folder: 2
PBS Teleconference Information
box-folder 3 folder: 3
Forum Handouts, Session Summary, 1990-04
box-folder 3 folder: 4
Speaker Information and Correspondence
box-folder 3 folder: 5
Post-Forum Materials, Follow-Up, Evaluations
Forum 14: The Genie in the Genome: The Human Genome Project, 1992-04-09
box-folder 3 folder: 6
National Institute of Health Application and Final Report
box-folder 3 folder: 7
Pre-Program Publicity, Planning, and Arrangements
box-folder 3 folder: 8
Teleconference Information
box-folder 3 folder: 9
Evaluation Information and Handouts
box-folder 3 folder: 10
Speakers, Conference
box-folder 3 folder: 11
Discussion Groups
box-folder 3 folder: 12
Background Materials
box-folder 3 folder: 13
National Endowment for the Humanities, 1994-1997
Forum 15: Quality of Life at the End of Life (Physician Assisted Suicide),
1994-03-24
box-folder 3 folder: 14
Pre-Program Planning, Publicity and Meeting Notes
box-folder 3 folder: 15
Vignettes for Main Session
box-folder 3 folder: 16
Child Care Arrangements
box-folder 3 folder: 17
Teleconference 1/2
box-folder 3 folder: 18
Teleconference 2/2
box-folder 3 folder: 19
Forum Handouts
box-folder 3 folder: 20
Evaluations
box-folder 3 folder: 21
Correspondence and Speakers
Forum 16: Quality of Life in the Electronic Village, 1995-03-30
box-folder 4 folder: 1
Public Relations and Pre-Program Planning
box-folder 4 folder: 2
Forum Day Handouts, 1995
box-folder 4 folder: 3
Teleconference and PBS Contact
box-folder 4 folder: 4
Evaluations and Summary
box-folder 4 folder: 5
Speaker Biographies and Correspondence
box-folder 4 folder: 6
Community Programming
box-folder 4 folder: 7
Background Materials
Choices and Challenges 17 and 18
box-folder 4 folder: 8
National Endowment for the Humanities Proposal, 1996-1997
box-folder 4 folder: 9
National Endowment for the Humanities Interim Report, 1996-07
box-folder 4 folder: 10
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Grant, 1996-1997
Forum 17: Quality of Life in the Global Environment: Water Resource,
1996-10-17
box-folder 4 folder: 11
Early Publicity
box-folder 4 folder: 12
Handouts
box-folder 4 folder: 13
Teleconference
box-folder 4 folder: 14
Follow-Up
box-folder 4 folder: 15
Speaker Information and Forms
box-folder 4 folder: 16
Background
Forum 18: Quality of Life in the Global Environment: Earth's Future,
1997-04-03
box-folder 4 folder: 17
Publicity
box-folder 5 folder: 1
Speakers
box-folder 5 folder: 2
Teleconference
box-folder 5 folder: 3
Handouts and Post-Forum
box-folder 5 folder: 4
PBS Contract
Choices and Challenges 19
box-folder 5 folder: 5
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
box-folder 5 folder: 6
National Endowment for the Humanities
Forum 19: Reinventing the Human Designer Children, 1999-03-25
box-folder 5 folder: 7
Planning
box-folder 5 folder: 8
Speakers, 1999
box-folder 5 folder: 9
Vignette
box-folder 5 folder: 10
Editing of Video - PBS
box-folder 5 folder: 11
Questions Raised by Audience at Main Session
box-folder 5 folder: 12
Reactions, Session Summaries
box-folder 5 folder: 13
Evaluations
Forum 20: Reinventing the Human: The Six-Million-Dollar Body, 2000-11-09
box-folder 5 folder: 14
Planning, Publicity, and Speaker Biographies
box-folder 5 folder: 15
Handouts
box-folder 5 folder: 16
Pig in the Middle Performance
box-folder 5 folder: 17
Post-Forum Production of PBS
Forum 21: Food Fights: Genetically Modified Foods and Food Safety, 2002-04-11
box-folder 5 folder: 18
Grant Application
box-folder 5 folder: 19
Greenwall Foundation
box-folder 5 folder: 20
Publicity
box-folder 5 folder: 21
Speakers
box-folder 5 folder: 22
Evaluation, Summaries
box-folder 5 folder: 23
Editing of Videotape for PBS
Forum 22: Big Brother Technologies, 2003-03-27
box-folder 6 folder: 1
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Grant, 2003
box-folder 6 folder: 2
NEH Proposal, 2002
box-folder 6 folder: 3
Pre-Program Planning, Publicity and Handouts
Choices and Challenges Special Items
box-folder 6 folder: 4
Plays
box-folder 6 folder: 5
Post-Forum, In the Classroom
box-folder 6 folder: 6
Forum Talks
box-folder 6 folder: 7
Post-Forum Learning Modules Online
box-folder 6 folder: 8
In the Community
box-folder 6 folder: 9
High Temperature Superconductors
box-folder 6 folder: 10
Forum Brochures
box-folder 6 folder: 11
PBS Transcripts
Scope and Content
Quality of Life in the Global Environment: Preparing for the Next Century; Quality
of Life At the End of Life; Quality of Life in the Electronic Village; The Genie in
the Genome: the Human Genome Project; Quality of Life in the Global Environment:
Sharing the Earth's Water Supply
box-folder 6 folder: 12
Articles Regarding Choices and Challenges
box-folder 6 folder: 13
Awards
box-folder 6 folder: 14
Licensing Agreements
box-folder 6 folder: 15
Other Sources of Funds
box-folder 6 folder: 16
Local Media
box-folder 6 folder: 17
Problem with University Distinguished Professors' Forums
Scope and Content
The UDPs started a forum series and picked a subject (Climate Change) that the
Choices and Challenges project had already selected and for which funding was awarded
by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH). This created the need to suddenly
change the topic to "Pesticide Dilemma" and threatened funding from the VFH. The
Presidential Symposia lasted only for a few years.
box-folder 6 folder: 18
Advisory Committee Sampling and 1988 Survey of Consumer Topic Preferences,
1988
Local TV Programs Featuring Choices and Challenges Topics and
Speakers
Scope and Content
One tape with 4 Standpoint Programs (Star Wars, Limits to Care, Coal, and IQ Testing)
Standpoint Program on Nuclear Power and Space Science BlueRidge Nightline program on
Limits-to-Care forum BlueRidge Nightline program on the Six-Million-Dollar-Man
forum
box 8
Forum 1: New Reproductive Options, 1985
Scope and Content
Gary Hodgen talk Noel Keane talk Q and AQ on use of surrogacy in pregnancy with Noel
Keane and audience
box 13
Choices and Challenges Tape 1 - Wilfred Jewkes and Gary D. Hodgen,
1985
box 13
Choices and Challenges Tape 2 - Discussion with Hodgen,
Questions
Choices and Challenges Tape 3 - Discussion by Noel P. Keane, 1985
box 13
New Reproductive Options: Noel P. Keane, 1985-02-28
box 8
Forum 6: Intelligence Testing, 1986
Scope and Content
Arthur Jensen and Jonathan Baron talks with response by Richard Burian Arthur Jensen
talk Jonathan Baron talk
box 12
Intelligence Testing Tape 1
box 12
Intelligence Testing Tape 2
box 12
Intelligence Testing Tape 3
box 12
Intelligence Testing CEUT Edits Tape 1
box 12
Intelligence Testing CEUT Edits Tape 2
box 12
Intelligence Testing CEUT Edits Tape 3
box 13
Intelligence Testing - Jonathan Baron Camera Original
box 13
Intelligence Testing Reactors, 1986-09-30
Scope and Content
Richard Burian, Lee Edson, William Harris, Frank Mac Hovec
box 13
Intelligence Testing #1 - D. Zallen, 1999-05-06
box 8
Forum 8: Nuclear Power and Space Science, 1987
Scope and Content
Richard Hirsh intro, Alvin Weinberg and Kristen Shrader-Frechette talks International
Panel (UK, Sweden, and India) in Washington answering questions from Blacksburg
audience
box 8
Forum 9: Reproductive-Control Options, 1987
Scope and Content
Four vignettes, performed by Interplay, used to begin discussion by panelists
box 8
Forum 10: Altering the Aging Process, 1988
box 12
Altering the Aging Process CEUT Edits Tape 1
box 12
Altering the Aging Process CEUT Edits Tape 2
box 12
Altering the Aging Process CEUT Edits Tape 3
box 12
Aging Reel 2, 1988-04-14
box 12
Aging Reel 1, 1988-04-14
box 12
Aging Tape 1 of 3
box 12
Aging Tape 2 of 3
box 12
Aging Tape 3 of 3
box 8
Forum 11: High Temperature Superconductors, 1988
box 8
Forum 12: Pesticide Dilemma, 1989
Scope and Content
Thomas Dunlap on history of pesticide use in the US General panel discussion on
safety and effectiveness of pesticide use and on alternative strategies
box 8
Forum 13: Food Fights, 1990
box 12
Food Fights CEUT Edits Tape 1
box 12
Food Fights CEUT Edits Tape 2
box 12
Food Fights CEUT Edits Tape 3
box 12
Food Fights Teleconference Part 1
box 12
Food Fights Teleconference Part 11
box 12
Food Fights Tape 3 of 3
box 13
Food Fights Tape 1 of 3
box 13
Food Fights Tape 2 of 3, 1990
box 8
Forum 14: Genie in the Genome, 1992
box 12
The Genie in the Genome CEUT Edits Tape 1
box 12
The Genie in the Genome CEUT Edits Tape 2
box 12
The Genie in the Genome CEUT Edits Tape 3
box 12
The Genie and the Genome Part 1 of 2, 1992-04-09
box 12
The Genie and the Genome Part 2 of 2, 1992-04-09
box 8
Forum 15: Quality of Life at the End of Life, 1994
Scope and Content
Vignette 1 and panel discussion on physician-assisted suicide Vignette 2 and panel
discussion on proceeding with futile interventions Vignettes, 1 and 2 only
box 12
Quality of Life at the End of Life Tape 1 of 2, 1995-03-24
box 12
Quality of Life at the End of Life Tape 2 of 2, 1995-03-24
box 12
End of Life Tape 3 of 3
box 12
Blue Ridge Nighttime: Quality of Life at the End of Life
box 13
PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service & Virginia Tech - Quality of Life
at the End of Life, 1994-03-24
box 8
Forum 16: Quality of Life in the Electronic Village, 1995
Scope and Content
Panel discussion on education, the workplace, and medicine Panel discussion on issues
of equity Donald Lindberg discusses telemedicine, including "Nintendo surgery"
box 12
Quality of Life in the Electronic Village Tape 1 of 2, 1995-03-30
box 12
Quality of Life in the Electronic Village Tape 2 of 2, 1995-03-30
box 12
Electronic Village Tape 1 of 4
box 12
Electronic Village Tape 2 of 4
box 12
Electronic Village Tape 3 of 4
box 12
Electronic Village Tape 4 of 4
box 12
Quality of Life in the Electronic Village CEUT Edits Tape 2
box 12
Blue Ridge Nighttime: Quality of Life in the Electronic Village, 1995-03-24
box 12
Blacksburg Electronic Village
box 8
Forum 17: Sharing the Earth's Water Supply, 1996
box 8
Forum 18: Preparing for the Next Century, 1997
box 12
Quality of Life in the Global Environment: Preparing For the Next Century
Part 1 of 2, 1997-04-03
box 12
Quality of Life in the Global Environment: Preparing For the Next Century
Part 2 of 2, 1997-04-03
box 8
Forum 19: Designer Children
Scope and Content
Animation explaining gene therapy and genetic enhancement Edited program based on the
main conference session
box 8
Forum 21: Food Frights, 2002
Scope and Content
Edited program based on the main conference session
box 12
Food Frights Program with TC Captions
Scope and Content
24:30:15
Various Tapes
box 12
Choices and Challenges: Human Organ Transplants "Alternatives to Human
Organs"
box 12
Choices and Challenges Panel Discussion - The Extended Ecosystem
box 12
Choices and Challenges Panel Discussion - The Workplace
Environment
box 12
Choices and Challenges Excerpts Postel
box 12
Choices and Challenges Excerpts Hammond
box 13
Rep. Boucher, 1995-03-22
box 12
Quality of Life Interviews
box 12
Spliced Tape for Choices and Challenges, 1994
box 13
Author Jewsey Camera Original
box 13
Choices and Challenges Weapons in Space - Questions Period - Camera
Original, 1985-05-23
Scope and Content
James A Ionson, John E Pike, Robert E Marshak (moderator)
box 13
Production and Inventory Theory, 1986-03
box 13
"What About Tomorrow?"
box 13
Unnamed Tape
box 18
Choices and Challenges Q&A, 2000-11-09
box 18
Choices and Challenges Main Session, 2000-11-09
box 18
Choices and Challenges: Reinventing the Human the Six Million Dollar Body
Program 1 of 2, 2000
box 18
Choices and Challenges: Reinventing the Human the Six Million Dollar Body
TC Window Dub Program 1 of 2, 2000
box 18
Unnamed Tape
box 18
Unnamed Tape
Film Reels
item 2
Choices and Challenges: Quality of Life at the End of Life Part
1
item 3
Choices and Challenges: Quality of Life at the End of Life Part
2
item 1
Choices and Challenges Teleconference Reel 1 of 2, 1988-10-26
item 4
Choices and Challenges Teleconference Reel 2 of 2, 1988-10-26
Gary Hodgen talk on new reproductive options; Q and A with Gary Hodgen; Noel Keane
talk on use of surrogate parenthood
box 9
Forum 2: Weapons in Space, 1985
Scope and Content
Talks by James Ionson and John Pike; Discussion with Ionson and Pike; Ionson and Pike
discussion (continued)
box 9
Forum 4: Limits to Care, 1985
Scope and Content
Panel discussion of a case study; Panel discussion (continued)
box 9
Forum 5: New Coal Mining and Combustion Technologies, 1986
Scope and Content
Talks by Michael Quillen and Curtis Seltzer; Talks by Helen Lewis and James Zoia;
Panel discussion; Discussion Group: Extended Ecosystem; Discussion Group: Workplace
Environment; Discussion Group: Coal and the Local Community
box 9
Forum 7: Genetic Engineering, 1986
Scope and Content
Discussion at AAUW program held on November 24, 1986
box 9
Forum 12: Pesticide Dilemma, 1989
Scope and Content
Discussion Group: Alternatives to Agricultural Pesticides
Forum 15: Quality of Life at the End of Life, 1994
box 15
The Hospice Option, 1994
box 15
Ethical Perspectives, 1994
box 15
Religious Perspectives, 1994
box 15
Rubric Policy Options, 1994
box 15
Quality of Life at the End of Life - Legal Perspectives - Greg Campbell,
1994-03
Forum 16: Quality of Life in the Electronic Village, 1995
box 14
Technology Tutorial - Scott Midkiff, 1995-03-30
box 14
The Status of Social Interchange - Ellsworth Fuhrman, 1995
"The Choices and Challenges Project - exploring the
social and ethical dimensions of science and technology", presentation poster
about the project, ca. 2001
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