Perspectives on Engaging the Public in the Ethics of Emerging Biotechnologies: From Salmon to Biobanks to Neuroethics

Abstract:

In anticipation of increasing interest in public engagement, this article seeks to expand the current discussion in the neuroethics literature concerning what public engagement on issues related to neuroscience might entail and how they could be envisioned. It notes that the small amount of available neuroethics literature related to public engagement has principally discussed only communication/education or made calls for dialogue without exploring what this might entail on a practical level. The article links across three seemingly disparate examples—salmon, biobanks, and neuroethics—to consider and clarify the need for public engagement in neuroscience.

Keywords: biobanks; deliberative democracy; neuroethics; public engagement; salmon genomics

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/08989620802388762

Affiliations: 1: Department of Journalism, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2: W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada