Projects > Genetic Engineering for Wildlife Conservation
Genetic engineering for wildlife conservation
Background
This project focused on public engagement in the context of wildlife conservation. With rapidly advancing efforts like genetic engineering, conservation efforts face a gap in public understanding and participation. Societal concerns about ethics, environmental impact, and stakeholder involvement in decision-making have become vital. My goal was to design a public engagement strategy that addressed these concerns by fostering meaningful dialogue among experts and stakeholders, ensuring inclusive and democratic participation in decisions that affect wildlife conservation.
My approach
I approached the problem by combining technology solutions and design to create dynamic and interactive web-based platform. I first conducted interviews with four experts in the genetic engineering space to gather insights and synthesize their input into a framework for future public engagement. My public engagement design canvas served as a structured approach to designing the engagement strategy, identifying key stakeholders, concerns, and methods for participation.
After reflecting on common and outlier themes, I constructed the stakeholder engagement web product in the infinite whiteboard software Miro, which allowed experts to contribute their input. The product was designed for inclusivity and ease of use, enabling a diverse range of voices to engage in discussions about genetic engineering and conservation.
Challenges & Solutions
One significant challenge was narrowing down the topic for public engagement, as I was initially torn between addressing remote learning and wildlife conservation. Through expert interviews and reflecting on common themes from previous personal and professional experiences, I decided to focus on genetic engineering in wildlife conservation. Another challenge was gathering expert input in a short time frame, which I addressed by designing a web product that facilitated easy access and interaction from stakeholders, allowing for rapid feedback.
Impact & results
The project had a significant impact on advancing the conversation around public engagement in wildlife conservation and genetic engineering. The web product enabled stakeholders to contribute insights, helping shape the design of a future public engagement initiative. While quantitative data wasn’t gathered due to the hypothetical nature of the scenario, the qualitative feedback from experts provided valuable perspectives on how such engagements could be structured, increasing the inclusivity of future decision-making processes.
Reflections
This project taught me the importance of merging technology with public engagement to foster inclusive dialogue. I learned that designing for participation is essential to bridging the gap between complex technical topics and public understanding. The engagement strategy revealed that interviews and storytelling, when combined with technology, can help demystify scientific and environmental issues and increase accessibility. These insights will guide my future work in similar spaces, where I aim to integrate participatory design into environmental and technological initiatives.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank Professor Mahmud Farooque for his guidance throughout the project, as well as the four experts in genetic engineering and wildlife conservation who provided invaluable insights. Their participation helped shape the engagement framework, and this project would not have been possible without their contributions. I also appreciate my peers for their feedback and collaboration in refining my ideas.