New research on genomic influences on human traits such as intelligence, educational attainment, household income, and sexual behavior is newsworthy and of high public interest. But covering the research findings can be a minefield. The findings are prone to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. And they are already being misused by individuals and groups seeking to justify racist and other biases. The need for responsible journalism about genomics research is greater than ever. How should scientists and journalists work together to report on the findings of this research to the public?
The Hastings Center, in partnership with the Center for ELSI Resources & Analysis (CERA), will present an online discussion for journalists, “Genomics, Human Behavior, and Social Outcomes,” featuring:
Moderator: Amy Harmon, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist at the New York Times covering the intersection of science and society.
Panelist: Erik Parens, a principal investigator of “Wrestling with Social and Behavioral Genomics” and a senior research scholar at The Hastings Center
Panelist: Melinda Mills, a genetic scientist at the Sociogenome Project and director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science (LCDS), University of Oxford