The F2F research group is an interdisciplinary research team that designs and tests methods to support the ethical analysis of issues in biotechnology and genomics. The team employs depth interviewing, focus groups, and deliberative engagement events to learn about and investigate social norms as they apply to complex scientific issues. The team also supports training in F2F and deliberative democracy approaches within the GE3LS ARCH.

Biobanking in British Columbia: 2 deliberative public engagements

2007

The F2F research group organized and ran a deliberative public engagement on the topic of biobanks with a group of citizens from across BC, called the the BC Biobank Deliberation.  This event took place on the weekends of April 21^st, 22^nd and May 5^th, 6^th 2007. 

The goal of the BC Biobank Deliberation was to inform policy by drawing on people from many different backgrounds, and with many different opinions, needs and expectations. By using the knowledge, insight and advice of an educated citizenry to create policy, we can make decisions that reflect social realities and add to the trust we can put in the outcomes of these processes.

More information about the event can be found here.

For a detailed report on the event please see here.

2009

The F2F team and the BC Biolibrary collaborated on a second deliberative public engagement on March 7th and 8th and 21 and 22nd 2009. This event aimed to involve members of the BC public directly in the design of the BC BioLibrary policy itself, notably processes for obtaining informed consent and the for the governance of donated samples and information. For more information about the project please visit: www.biobanktalk.ca

More information about the collaboration between the F2F research group and the BC Biolibrary can be found here.

Salmon Genomics: a deliberative public engagement

This deliberation was run in November 2008 by the F2F team. We invited 25 diverse members of the BC public to participate in a discussion about the potential benefits and concerns surrounding sequencing the salmon genome including the areas of basic salmon biology, evolution, economics and environment.

For more information please visit http://salmongenetalk.com/.

Pollution, Explosives and genetically engineered microorganisms

The F2F team is currently in the planning stages for a deliberative public engagement on the potential use of genetically engineered microorganisms as a tool for biological degredation of pollution caused by military grade explosives. 

Biobanking and Deliberative Democracy Workshop

The Face to Face research team held an invitational workshop in November 2006 that brought together international expertise in ethics and democratic studies to help design experiments in seeking public input into policy related to biobanks.  The link above leads to more information about this workshop and access the presentations. 

Face 2 Face Research Collaborations

Information about our collaborations with the Mayo Clinic, Western Australia, and the BC Biolibrary can be found here.