A remarkable dialog among five Atlanta university presidents took place on campus April 24 when Georgia Tech President G. P. “Bud” Peterson hosted “A Conversation among Presidents:  Compassion in Science and Technology” at the Historic Academy of Medicine.

The topic continued a dialog originating with the 2012 Ivan Allen Jr. Prize and Symposium that honored Dr. William Foege, a renowned epidemiologist and global champion of compassion in science. It also complemented the freshman reading assignment, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks which explored science, ethics, and race.

"Ethics and compassion cannot be separated from science and technology. The driving force behind the discoveries in science and the applications in engineering and technology is the need to improve the human condition," said Peterson. "The challenge, and the commitment needed, is to do the right thing, regardless. Ethics has been compared to tennis - either it is in or it is out. While there are many hard decisions along the way about which choice is the most ethical, a good leader’s decision should never be whether or not to remain ethical."

Initiated at the behest of President Peterson, organization of the panel was headed by Dr. Kenneth Knoespel, director of the Ivan Allen Institute for Advanced Studies, Ivan Allen College. Joining Dr. Peterson were Presidents Elizabeth Kiss of Agnes Scott College, Beverly Daniel Tatum of Spelman College, James W. Wagner of Emory University and John Silvanus Wilson, Jr. of Morehouse College.

All five presidents agreed that compassion is a quality they are working to successfully incorporate into their respective campus cultures. Moderated by Scheller College of Business Professor Bill Todd, the discussion ranged across science, race, ethics, social courage, and the importance of social compassion in every campus culture.

“Perhaps a lack of courage stems from a lack of compassion,” said Todd.

The event was open to faculty, staff, parents, and students.

“This was such an awesome and incredible event,” said Eran Mordel, past president of Georgia Tech’s Student Government Association. “It’s very rare that you have five intelligent, creative and knowledgeable education leaders in one room, on one stage. The conversation was captivating, and I was inspired by so many statements made by the presidents.”