Balance-Unbalance2011/Sustainable future proposal
From GE3LS wiki
Balance – Unbalance 2011 Transdisciplinary Activity Proposal
From genomes to the environment: Can we create a sustainable future? A sticky wiki installation.
Authors: Anne Goldenberg, Anne Gorry, Lisa Gualtieri, David Mason and David Secko
Contents |
Abstract
The Genozymes-GE3LS project is a Concordia based science and society group which, among other activities, attempts to trigger public discussion and knowledge building about the environmental and societal dimensions of genomic science, with a special focus on environmental footprints, sustainability, communications and public engagement.
For Balance – Unbalance 2011, this multidisciplinary team will present an installation that plays the role of catalyst for a public discussion on the potential outcomes of genomic research as related to our degrading environment. It will include a three dimensional participatory mind-map that includes diverse material for participants to consider and include in the structure, as well as an innovative synchronized structured wiki interpretation, as a continuous way to openly develop knowledge in this field.
The participatory installation will invite the public and experts to discuss the relationship between science and society, with a focus on the role of genomics. We will use participant-generated content from a previous public engagement event as a starting point and encourage participants to contribute and link ideas, projects and themes. Ultimately, the installation will work to integrate all contributions into a structured wiki to add both permanence and impact to deliberative outcomes on the event. This will make the generated content, which will address our collective future in the face of a global environmental crisis, available for successive projects focusing on linked ideation and the generation of meaningful environmental solutions that respect multiple value systems.
Full description of proposal
With the issue of our time arguably being a global environmental crisis, many argue that we need to find ways to more fully explore the options available to us. Some see deliberative public engagements events [1] as one tool to allow traditional and lay expertise to mingle in ways that seek to challenge and build on the reasoning behind the various positions that people hold on the environment. However, typical deliberative engagement events have an uncertain destiny [2]; after an event their outcomes may ultimately be ignored or simply recede into a vast array of previous events. We can be left with no deeper awareness, no solidified relationships and no just and sustainable collective decisions that take into account multiple value systems.
In this proposal, we seek to test how to add more permanence and impact to deliberative engagement events on pressing issues related to our environment. We will do this by building on our past public engagement research (e.g. [3], [4]) through the addition of an artist collaboration [5] and, uniquely, the inclusion of a structured wiki (Semantic Mediawiki[6]) expert [7] to support the mimicking of a participatory artistic installation. This work further builds on the ongoing Genozymes-GE3LS project, an initiative at Concordia University that combines genome scientists with humanities scholars to research forms of public engagement on complex biotechnologies [8].
Here, we focus our work on the small (a genome) in the context of the large (helping a degrading environment). In November 2010, we ran a deliberative-style world café on sustainable energy and genomics where lay and expert participants raised several important themes for future consideration, including: (i) that the communication of important energy issues is currently less than ideal; (ii) that we currently have a narrow focus on short-term goals; (iii) that conversations surrounding science, energy and social issues risked becoming “stagnant”; and (iv) that there is a need for more honest, public discussion on sustainable energy issues that avoids the current segregation of stakeholders [9]. These themes point to the need for future discussion to be more open, forward looking and long-term oriented, and capable of building clear connections between debated concepts.
Thus, for this trans-disciplinary activity, we will begin with a clear, but complex question: ‘From genomes to the environment: can we create a sustainable future?’ Participants will be invited to respond to this question and build a collective mind-map. The installation conceptualized at http://www.genozymes-ge3ls.ca/wiki/Balance-Unbalance2010/Sustainable_future_proposal [10] will consist of the following:
(1) A three dimensional participatory mind-map
A 2x2x2 meter bamboo cube will invite participants to hang concepts, categorize them, and link them in a keyed system. Genomics and participant-generated content from the previous public event [11] will be used as starting material and will help participants structure their ideas in the collective discussion. The cubic installation will come with two other elements: (i) a table where physical and analytical resources will be made available and (ii) a projection of the progress of the installation on the project's wiki.
(2) Availability of resources
Through our public engagement events and other research, the Genozymes-GE3LS project has gathered resources about the issue in question. Access to this knowledge, in the form of articles, documents, newspapers, and wiki-content, will be available for consultation. Physical material will also be available to work with, including coloured paper (to write concepts related to thematic categories), coloured ties (for linking), as well as recycled material from a typical genomics laboratory setting.
(3) An open-space of translation
Our aim is to trigger on-site interactions, with the resultant mind-map transformed into web based knowledge that can be re-used, and enable broad, long-term participation. Throughout the event physical content will be synchronized with the wiki using its systems of pages, categories and links, semantic annotations and multimedia. This content will be available for further online editing, interactive queries and visualizations such as relationship graphing, timelines, geomapping and cost calculations. A static example of a relationship graph is available at [12].
Overall, the installation will work to be a catalyst for public discussion and representation of what is at stake concerning sustainable development as related to rapidly advancing scientific technology. In order for participants to reflect upon the use and meaning of participatory media, they will witness this transcription and be invited to take part in this process. While fostering multiple means to participate openly, we will support organizing through linking and categorizing of ideas and adding details from different perspectives, with a long term goal of fostering multi-disciplinary, multi-perspective project development.
References
- ↑ Secko et al., (2008). Accountability in Research 15:283–302
- ↑ Abelson, et al., (2003). Social Science and Medicine 57(2):239–251
- ↑ O’Doherty et al., (2010). Genomics, Society and Policy 6(1):16-33
- ↑ Secko and Smith, (2010). Canadian Journal of Communication 35: 265-274
- ↑ https://wikifarm.koumbit.net/anne/BodyConnFliCtingMinds?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=OCM.pdf
- ↑ http://www.semantic-mediawiki.org
- ↑ http://zooid.org/vid/
- ↑ http://www.genozymes-ge3ls.ca
- ↑ http://genozymes-ge3ls.ca/mediawiki/images/4/4e/PlantingOurFuel_FinalReport1.pdf
- ↑ http://www.genozymes-ge3ls.ca/wiki/File:SustainableFutureSmallsize.jpeg
- ↑ http://genozymes-ge3ls.ca/mediawiki/images/4/4e/PlantingOurFuel_FinalReport1.pdf
- ↑ http://www.genozymes-ge3ls.ca/wiki/File:Graph-example.png
Scheme of the installation
(click for a larger version)
Detailed technical needs
The installation will require a dedicated space of 2x4x2 meters, to host the 2x2x2 meters cube as well as a table for material and resources, laptops, a projector, an internet connection and a screen. We can provide the cube material (nine 2 meter bamboo sticks, ties, pen and recycled paper) but may need a screen, projector, a table, some chairs, and a functioning internet connection, though we can provide these items if not available otherwise.
Biographies
Anne Goldenberg has a Ph.D. in communication and sociology. She is a facilitator and a socio-cognitive sculptress who has produced several participatory installations around the word. In particular, the installation ourcollnnectiveminds (http://ourcollnnectiveminds.blogspot.com/ ) is the partial inspiration for this project. She will lead the physical installation.
Anne Gorry is an epistemologist, and specialist in the relationship between sciences and society. She is finishing an MD about scientific mediation and the sciences and society discourse. She will provide analytic resources for the installation.
Lisa Gualtieri is a Research Assistant with the Genozymes-GE3LS project, where she studies environmental sustainability issues related to genomics-based biofuel development. She will provide research support and issue documentation.
David Mason is a long term innovator and technologist, supporting knowledge development, public engagement and digital literacy in fields including the formative Internet, government, health, science and non profits. He will lead the structured wiki.
- Website: http://zooid.org/~vid
- CV
David Secko is an Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism at Concordia University. His research links across journalism, public engagement, science and ethical issues to clarify and experiment with the roles of the public, experts and journalists in the democratic governance of biotechnology. He is the team leader and will add expertise in communications, public engagement methodologies and event facilitation.
Links to online CV and website
See #Biographies
