Abstract

We now have the technology to redesign life and sculpt the evolution of every living creature. How do we apply this technology? What sort of future do we want? Who gets to decide? Twenty-three ordinary Australians convened at the Museum of Australian Democracy at the Old Parliament House in Canberra to form the national citizens’ jury on genome editing. Participants heard from experts about genome editing technologies, deliberated on how these should be regulated, and developed a citizens’ report that can inform debates in parliament, international organisations and the wider public. In this seminar organised by the Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science, and the Public and Wellcome Connecting Science, Professor Nicol will discuss the process and outcomes of the Australian Citizen’s Jury organised by the Centre for Law and Genetics at the University of Tasmania in collaboration with the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra.