Open AccessEngagement and social acceptance in genome editing for human benefit: Reflections on research and practice in a global context
Author(s) -
Sebastián Barbosa,
Léa Paré Toé,
Delphine Thizy,
Manjulika Vaz,
Lucy Carter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
wellcome open research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.298
H-Index - 21
ISSN - 2398-502X
DOI - 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16260.2
Subject(s) - distrust , public engagement , stakeholder engagement , public relations , context (archaeology) , politics , stakeholder , political science , community engagement , government (linguistics) , face (sociological concept) , sociology , public participation , engineering ethics , social science , engineering , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , law , biology
While there are both practical and ethical reasons for public engagement in science and innovation, real-world detailed examples of engagement practice and the lessons to come from these are still hard to find. This paper showcases three contextually diverse case studies of engagement practice. Case 1 recounts the experiences of a government-funded initiative to involve scientists and policy makers as science communicators for the purpose of engaging the Argentine public on gene editing. Case 2 describes the research methodologies used to elicit diverse stakeholder views in the face of political uncertainty and institutional distrust in India. Finally, case 3 unpacks the tensions and gaps with existing international guidelines for ensuring local voices are respected in community decision-making in Burkina Faso. Each case shares its own compelling rationale for selecting the engagement method chosen and details the challenges encountered along the way. Each case shares its vision for creating legitimate opportunities for broader societal involvement in the planning, conduct and delivery of responsible science. These cases demonstrate the nuances, sensitivities and challenges of engaging with publics and broader stakeholders in discussions about genome editing for human benefit.