Camila Iglesias Y Duro

To get society to think about editing DNA of future generations.

Camila Iglesias Y Duro (biomedical scientist) is a PhD student for the Amsterdam Research Institute for Reproduction and Development (AR&D). She is working in the Amsterdam UMC (VUmc) at the department Community Genetics, in collaboration with the Willem de Kooning Academy (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences). She researches the role of art in public deliberation and societal alignment of human germline editing.

Human germline gene editing introduces heritable genetic alterations to ‘the human germline’. It has the potential to impact clinical practice by preventing severe genetic disorders in the embryo, however, it poses all kinds of questions and dilemmas. For example, changes in DNA can be passed on to subsequent generations. Thereby, it has the potential to alter human nature. In a democratic society, this requires public discussion and deliberation. But how do you shape that, and what values are at stake?

Camila Iglesias Y Duro curates several artistic interventions intended to stimulate dialogue and deliberation on the topic of human germline editing. The effectiveness for deliberation of several public art works and events will be studied using innovative methods to shape this conversation, for example, artistic research, constructive journalism and experimental design methods.

This PhD project entails a collaboration between Amsterdam UMC, Willem de Kooning Academy (Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences), and multiple academic and industry partners. This project is supervised by Prof. Lidewij Henneman, Amsterdam UMC, and co-supervised by Dr. Michelle Kasprzak, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. As such, the project features a unique combination of art-science collaborations but also of public engagement and science communication.

Public engagement in decision making on DNA editing? Connecting with society by using art and design!