quick scan
scan for   wiwe wi we advanced
WI-WE Progress
Progress: 46.18%   WWI-WE Version: 2
0 mandatory questions pending
26 questions total
10 questions answered
10 questions completed
16 questions pending
Popular WI-WE Tags
Analysis Back

Mapping Wild Cards

Inspired by: FP7 » “Children of Men” & the sperm banking crunch

version: 2 / updated: 2009-11-20
id: #268 / version id: #267
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Joe Ravetz
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Joe Ravetz
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished archived

Source of inspiration

European Commission Framework Programme for RTD (FP7)

Theme/activity of inspiration

Theme 6 - Environment (including Climate Change)

Sub-theme/area of inspiration

Environment and health

Optional reference/s to FP7 project/s

Use the following format: Project Acronym (Project Reference No.). Use commas if more than one project is associated to this Wild Card, for example: ALFA-BIRD (213266), SAFAR (213374), LAPCAT-II (211485)
CONTAMED (212502)

Headline

(max. 9 words)

“Children of Men” & the sperm banking crunch

Description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Wild Card (approx. 150 words)
Accumulation of endocrine-disruptors particularly in urban and automotive environments, brings forward the decline in male sperm counts to below the viable threshold. There are registered sperm banks and IVF procedures, but these are costly and available only to the wealthy. Other social groups are not happy about this existential threat and attempt a sabotage of private banks. This precipitates a crisis with individuals who feel that their future inheritance is at risk, and there is a backlash against fertility scientists and regulators.

Keywords

sperm, IVF, children, crisis, fertility, regulation, urban areas

Likelihood

Closest timeframe for at least 50% likelihood
Please use one of the following options:
now-2050

Type of event

Unplanned consequence of events/trends/situations (e.g. financial crisis, accidental breakthrough)

Type of emergence

please select (if any) describe related trend or situation
An extreme extension of a trend/development/situation
(e.g. Increased global warming leads to a total ban on fossil fuels)

Type of systems affected

Human-built Systems - E.g. organisations, processes, technologies, etc.

Classification

Undesirable

Importance

please specify:
please select
Level 3: important for the European Union