Genomic Imaginaries: Sparking Dialogue between ELSI and Literary Studies

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? Our panelists, Lara Choksey and Lesley Larkin, are literary scholars writing about narrative in the genomic—and postgenomic—era.

Join the discussion with panelists Lara Choksey, PhD and Lesley Larkin, PhD moderated by Rebecca Wilbanks, PhD.

Register here.