Human Practices/Introduction
Human Practices Introduction
"Human Practices is the study of how your work affects the world, and how the world affects your work." — Peter Carr, Director of Judging
Designing a thoughtful iGEM project requires asking which problems synthetic biology can best help solve and exploring the impacts of your work in the world. At iGEM we believe these societal considerations should be upfront and integrated throughout the design and execution of synthetic biology projects.
Through the Human Practices elements of their competition, iGEM teams consider whether their projects are safe, responsible and good for the world. They creatively explore issues relating (but not limited) to the ethics, safety, security, and sustainability of their projects. These issues are complex and often don’t have simple answers. Teams therefore conduct public engagement and dialogue; educating while inviting public input to shape the direction of their work.
Teams integrate human practices considerations into the design and execution of their project. They work with potential stakeholders to better understand their needs and use these findings to influence their team decisions. Teams also engage with diverse communities to shape the practice of synthetic biology within and beyond iGEM.
This work has taken many different forms. Teams have conducted environmental impact analyses, created museum exhibits, written intellectual property guides, facilitated "white hat" biosecurity investigations, held forums with legislators, and even performed street theatre. They have consulted and shared their experiences with constituents and policymakers in their individual cities and countries, as well as with international forums such as United Nations treaty deliberations.
Perhaps most importantly, the Human Practices element of an iGEM project is an opportunity for team members to explore the roles they might play in the world beyond the iGEM competition. Many iGEM students, mentors and judges have played significant roles in shaping the ways in which synthetic biology (and science and engineering more broadly) is understood and practiced around the world.
