Genomic Imaginaries: Sparking Dialogue between ELSI and Literary Studies

February 11, 2022 -
12:00pm to 1:00pm

Panelists:

Lara Choksey, PhD
University College London

Lesley Larkin, PhD
Northern Michigan University

Moderated by: Rebecca Wilbanks, PhD
Lecturer in Expository Writing, Johns Hopkins University

Abstract: As long as genetics research has been pursued, authors within and outside of the scientific establishment have crafted narratives to make sense of what it means. The “genomic imaginaries” found in literary fiction, works of popular nonfiction, blockbuster movies, and visual culture both reinforce and complicate dominant narratives about genomics put forward by governmental institutions and the popular press. They grapple with and help to construct notions of citizenship, humanity, and belonging informed by genomics. This panel seeks to bring insights gleaned from the study of interactions between science and literature (broadly construed) to an ELSI audience. What might be gained from greater dialogue between ELSI and literary studies, and what barriers currently exist to cross-disciplinary engagement?

View online here.  Previous seminars can be viewed here.

ELSI Friday Forum of NHGRI

Location and Address

Online