1. XIb PROJECT
LifeEnhancement
Living up to expectations part one
The uses to which surgery is put have increased dramatically over the last fifty years.
What benefits has surgery brought us? What role does cosmetic surgery play in
improving our lives? Can you think of any procedures that are now so routine that people
couldn’t imagine life without them?
Living up to expectations part two
And so to the future... Which procedures and treatments do you think are likely to
become available to the general public in the next 50 years and of the possible ones,
which should be given Top Priority in research labs? Which should be banned? Consider
the ideas in the box below, but feel free to discuss any other procedures that you have
heard of, or would like to see being developed.
designer babies memory implants lasers for spot-free skin
brain-spine electrodes to overcome paralysis restoring sight surgery
male pregnancy raising IQ through brain surgery
vaccine for colds baldness corrective surgery
online implants + retinal screen
Your chance to improve lives
You now need to decide on which life enhancement procedure (LEP) your team wants to
promote.
 Think about your reasons. Do you want to help as many people as possible? Are
you looking for the top money-spinning idea that is going to make you all rich? Do
you relish a creative challenge and want to bring out something no one else has
ever thought of? Are you looking for a way to change the very nature of mankind?
 Decide on what effects you would like your LEP to have on people.
 Now develop the procedure itself. How can you make this wonderful life-
enhancing thing a reality? What research will you have to carry out to make sure
it is safe? How will you make the treatment available to people?
 Finally, discuss what consequences there will be once your LEP becomes
successful and part of people’s everyday lives.

2. The documentation
It’s time to go public! Each member of your team should select one of the following to
write up:
research report: imagine your research has been carried out and write up a report which
outlines any trials, experiments etc, the findings and any recommendations
article: you need to generate interest in your new procedure, so write an article that can
appear in magazines around the world to introduce your LEP and get everyone talking
about it
promotional leaflet: people are starting to ask about your LEP, so write a leaflet
introducing it, explaining how it works and including all the information people might
want to know
descriptive account of the effects of your LEP: imagine a number of years have passed
and your treatment is now widely available – describe how life is for individuals who have
had your treatment, how society has benefitted...
Nobel Prize
It has been rumoured that this year the Nobel Prize is going to be awarded to a team
who have brought about a true revolution in people’s lives with their incredible life-
enhancing procedure. Could it be your team??
Prepare a presentation to give to the Nobel Committee in which you give a history of
your work and outline the amazing results.
You will also have the opportunity to question your rivals after their presentations.
Best of luck!