We are delight to announce that we will be hosting another BioGovernance Commons online seminar, titled ‘Looking Back into the Future: CRISPR and Social Values’ (回望未来：CRISPR与社会价值), between 7:00-9:00 GMT (15:00-17:00 Beijing Time) on Saturday 11 February. Dr. Jiankui He has accepted the invitation from GSEJ Director Dr. Joy Y. Zhang and the co-founder of BioGovernance Commons, Prof. Ruipeng Lei.
Dr. He will give 30-40 minute talk on his research plans and his reflection on how bioethical governance can be improved in China. This will be followed by input from three Chinese CRISPR scientists at different career stages and with differentiated policy/public engagement experience. There will also be Q&A at the end. The session is chaired by Ruipeng Lei.
This will be the first time that Dr. He has agreed to interact with Chinese bioethicists and other CRISPR scientists in a public event. What is equally important, the session gives us a chance to hear the ambitions and concerns from ordinary Chinese practitioners in the field of CRISPR research.
GSEJ is very pleased to enable such discussion as it is in line with our commitment to promote responsible science and inclusive social and policy debates. This event follows on from the Ethics of Protecting CRIPSR Babies International Roundtable we held in March 2021. Our goal is for this event to encourage more Chinese scientists and bioethicists to engage in open dialogue on this important topic both in China and internationally.
We also want to note that a 2-hour event cannot be comprehensive or representative. All speakers’ and attendees’ views are that of the individual, and do not represent any institution or group.
The event will be in Chinese with English simultaneous translation. If you wish to attend this event, please email Dr Joy Zhang (yz203@kent.ac.uk).
(updated on 6 Feb)
Update: 13 Feb: This meeting has exposed that Jiankui He does not have necessary plan in place to carry out his DMD gene therapy research responsibly and ethically. It has effectively halted Jiankui He’s online promotion of his DMD gene therapy to patients.
Please see our full meeting report here: https://research.kent.ac.uk/global-science-and-epistemic-justice/news/?article=382
Update: 17 Feb: Listen to the two BBC interviews about this event
Science in Action (starting 6:30)
Inside Science (from the beginning)
Update: 17 Mar other media report of the event:
ABC Radio National (Australia)
China’s Science and Technology Daily
