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This week, I've arranged to give a session at the IoN in Stirling during the first week of August. Earlier this year, I met its CEO Ottilia Saxl, as part of the NanoBio-RAISE project. I also anticipate that the work of the new PhD studentship we advertized will be closely connected to the IoN. It's a fascinating enterprise and I look forward to being there to talk about all that is new media and public engagement.
The TCS conference is just about to begin its final plenary, which includes an author of personal interest to me, N. Katherine Hayles. Her book, Becoming Posthuman, has been a central reference point for my own ideas on posthumanism over the last few years. It's also relevant for my forthcoming, co-authored book 'The Medicalization of Cyberspace'. This is my first TCS conference and it's been a rich mix of ideas and presentations. It's also a good excuse to visit Tokyo for the first time, where we've already had a typhoon and an earthquake!
Today, I'm in Glasgow speaking at the SEB meeting. Currently, Myra Wilson is speaking on her experience as a judge on Robot Wars. What a great job that seems! I was talking about public engagement issues, mainly the way we might utilise non-formal mechanisms through which to engage the public, blogs, comedy, art. The paper was titleD: Popular Science: The Rules of Engagement.
The panel debate is next!
Next month, I jet across to Brisbane to give a keynote by the title: New Media Futures: The Challenge from Posthumanity.
The emerging technologies of new media are changing the way people work, enjoy leisure and communicate. This paper will explore the challenge raised from the convergence of technology platforms and scope the scene for what lies ahead for sports involvement. The paper identifies two crucial trends in development, the process towards ‘immersion’ (bringing audiences closer to the arena) and ‘abstraction’ (bringing athletes closer to simulated arenas) and discusses the collapse of bodies and technology as distinct categories, which raises prospects of the posthuman performer in competition. The discussion considers what tomorrow’s people will expect from the mediatisation of sports and explores some of the implications this has for the organisation of society and the role of technology within it. While dominant cultural narratives portray such futures as inhuman or dehuman, I argue that these transformations offer rich variation to contemporary life by appealing to imaginative ways of communication and embodiment.
I will also take part in a debate about the role of science in the contribution of winning medals. It looks to be an exciting event and it's nearly 7 years since I've been to Australia. I just wish I was there for longer!
a flashback to 2005....
Project meeting where I spoke about the ethics of genetic testing and selecting for enhancement. This work develops ideas that have arisen from a number of recent projects, including the paper I wrote with Emma Rich and my Master degree dissertation in Medical Law. The title of this presentation was 'Is Genetic Selection for Sport a Good idea?'
A link to the presentation powerpoint.
Research seminar for the Center for Olympic Studies Research: 'Human Enhancement Technologies and the Bio-Politico-Ethics of Sport'
Over the last 5 years, the world has encountered considerable developments in human enhancement technologies. Yet, beyond their techical successes and failures, stem-cells, genetics, nanotech, and information technologies have all featured in the everyday sociologies of the future that abound within media and scholarly texts. The world of sport has encountered a wide range of these applications and the positioning of sports medicine in relation to experimental medical technologies invites rich and complex speculations on the development of performance in elite sport. In this paper, I discuss the role of bio(ethics) in cultural studies and its bearing on the human enhancement debate by drawing on Zylinska (2005). Within the UK, the most recent instantiation of this debate is through the public inquiry into Human Enhancement Technologies in Sport (Science and Technology Select Committee, 2006), the first evidence session of which heard from former 100m Olympic chamption Linford Christie. I discuss the political positioning of sports insitutions in relation to these technologies and how they reflect a broader bio-politico-ethical stance against human enhancement (Garnier, 2006; WADA, 2006). Moreover, I suggest that this positioning is broadly indicative of a fundamental tension within the world of medicine over its legitimate role, and the ends of a commercial model for human modification. These circumstances limit the possibility of open debate about the relevance and merit of anti-doping programmes and weaken the credibility of sport's judicial ethos, the latter of which is highlighted by responses from athletes to Linford Christie's involvement with the public inquiry. Finally, I conclude that these characteristics of sport's political economy inhibit nations from developing technoprogressive approaches to the human enhancement debate. References
Garnier, A. (2006). An Open Letter to Those Promoting Medical Supervision of Doping. Lausanne, Switzerland, World Anti-Doping Agency.
Science and Technology Select Committee (2006, March 1). New Inquiry: Human Enhancement Technologies in Sport. Select Committee for Science and Technology, British Government.
World Anti-Doping Agency (2005). The Stockholm Declaration [on Gene Doping], World Anti-Doping Agency.
Zylinska, J. (2005). The Ethics of Cultural Studies. London, Continuum.
Last weekend, Beatriz and I were in Philadelphia, having been invited to contribute to the second meeting of the project developed by Monroe Price and Daniel Dayan exploring the Beijing Olympics. This was another excellent meeting with some great presentations and discussions. It was also my first time in Philadelphia and I really warmed to the place. We were located in the city centre on Chestnut Street, which is a great location, especially for shopping and cultural activity.
In the meeting, our contribution was to discuss the role of new and alternative media platforms at an Olympic Games, which develops our research from the last four Olympics. Beijing looks like an exciting and intriguing case study in this respect.
Yesterday, I spoke for the British Council Cafe Scientifique which used a video conference system to link up with Jordan and Palestine. The focus of our conversations was human enhancement technologies in sport and we had extensive discussions about how to deal with the problem of doping. Students, teachers and journalists took part in the debate and linking up with two different places was quite straightforward. Clips of the discussion should be posted on the BC website shortly.
I'm doing a panel for this next Sunday night (12th).... A three-day biomedical ethics film festival relating to the ethics of transplantation, organ sales and trafficking and using animal organs for transplantation. A discussion will follow each screening...
http://www.filmhousecinema.com/TheEthicsofTransplantation.html
Last week, I went down to the RCA to give a talk I titled 'Posthuman Designs'. The programme on Design Interactions led by Anthony Dunne is just fascinating, engaging students with ways of imagining the future as a mechanism through which to promote public engagement about technology. Some of the work taking place there is superb and with everyone squeezed into a seminar room earnestly taking notes and thinking about how to transform concepts into artefacts, it's a really inspiring place. I hope to be down there again soon.
Last week, I gave a presentation at the invitation of Dr Yannis Pitsiladis, whom I have got to know quite well over the last few years. It was a pleasure to come and give another lecture to science students in GU. I've given so many classes here in the Postgrad school,I was left feeling a little nostalgic! Title of paper: Posthuman Enhancement Technologies in Sport
I've already written a few things about this meeting. It was great to see a number of friends again at this meeting and it was particularly interesting to hear concerns from within the medical community over the conflict of interests they face when treating athletes. My paper was titled 'Gene Doping: The Politics and Ethics of Enhancement'
This was a wonderful meeting where I had a chance to taste a little of the Malaysian lifestyle. It was a bit of a flying visit, but thoroughly worthwhile. The conference was the first major conference of this department, which is very well positioned withiin the university (of over 100,000 students!).
Conference website available online. My paper was titled Posthuman Sport
This was an excellent meeting, which is devloping into a book publication. Beatriz Garcia and I were brought in to this collaboration between the Communication University of China and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania by Professor Tian (Tina) Zhihui, star blogger and expert on all that is the Web. At this meeting, Beatriz and I gave a paper titled 'The New Media at the Olympics: Citizen Journalists and the Non-Accredited Media'.
Last friday, I chaired a meeting at UK Sport on the following topic. Much more to follow on this one.... Genetic Technology and Sport: Focus on Genotyping, Genetic Tests and Selection
Date: 29 September, 2006. Time: 1330-1530 Host and Location: UK Sport, 40 Bernard Street, London, WC1N 1ST Travel Advice: Subway: opposite Russell Square Tube Station (Piccadilly Line); Bus: numbers 10, 30, 68, 73, 91, 168 to Euston Station and a 10 min Walk; car: Contact UK Sport in advance to arrange car parking facilities: tel: 0207 7211 5100. Map of Location: see final page of this document (Appendix III).
Participants Dr Peter Fricker (Australian Institute of Sport) Dr Wendy Hiscox (London) Ms Alison Holloway (UK Sport) Professor Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough) Dr Andy Miah (Paisley) Dr Yannis Pitsiladis (Glasgow) Dr Emma Rich (Loughborough) Professor Julian Savulescu (Oxford) John Scott (Director of International Programs, UK Sport) Dr Alun Williams (Manchester Metropolitan)
Agenda
1330-1345 Introduction & Background Dr Andy Miah
1345-1410 The Science of Genetic Tests for Performance Dr Alun Williamson
Respondent Dr Yannis Pitsiladis
1415-1440 The Australian Perspective Dr Peter Fricker
1440-1530 General Discussion: Ethics, Law, Policy Chair, Professor Julian Savulescu
Key Questions
• What are genetic tests for performance and how do they work? (Science) • What are the ethical implications of such tests, both in the administration of them and their effect on the ethics of sport? (Medical and Research Ethics; Sport Ethics) • What is the legal status of these tests and how would regulation function in the context of international sport? (International Medical and Sport Law/Policy) • Should genetic tests for performance be used as part of the talent identification/selection process in elite sport? (General Moral Philosophical)
Brief
Dear Colleague,
We are delighted that you can attend the meeting organised at UK Sport on 29 September on genotyping, genetic tests and selection. During this meeting, we will hear from Dr Peter Fricker at the Australian Institute of Sport about the work that has taken place in Australia in relation to this subject. Since around 2001, Australia has made considerable investments into studies that aim to identify ‘performance genes’ and it has spent extensive time discussing the legal and ethical implications of such research and the use of genetic information more broadly (Australian Law Reforms Commission, 2003).
This work provides the context for our conversations, which have become all the more pertinent given two important developments. First, WADA’s second landmark meeting on Gene Doping concluded with a specific statement about the appropriateness of identifying performance genes and using them within the talent selection process (see Appendix I). Second, the first commercial genetic test for performance had already been introduced to various countries (see Appendix II).
This brief meeting will discuss the ethics and policy implications of legislation surrounding the use of genetic tests for enhanced health characteristics. The majority of attention on genetic tests in the UK has been limited to prenatal or pre-implantation testing, where the Human Genetics Commission explains the opportunities and dangers arising from the widespread use of such tests. The HGC and other organisations are generally dismissive of the need to consider selection for ‘enhancement’ purposes. Yet, it is unclear whether or how regulation will extend to postnatal testing for enhanced health. Our intention is to establish some conclusions and recommendations to inform this emerging debate.
This symposium is organised by invitation only and is hosted by UK Sport. We regret that we are unable to fund travel expenses or speakers’ fees for this one-off meeting, but anticipate that this might be the first of a series of meetings on this topic.
Please find attached 2 documents, which we would ask you to read before the meeting to avoid time spent on background details. Given the limited time we will have, participants are asked to consider, in advance, how their expertise in ethics, law, policy or science can inform the debate about the use of genetic information in sport.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr Andy Miah Professor Julian Savulescu University of Paisley, UK University of Oxford, UK e: email@andymiah.net e: julian.savulescu@philosophy.oxford.ac.uk t: +44 (0)7891 850497 t: +44 (0) 1865 286888
Bibliography
This list of references encompasses references to other major works in the area of genetic tests for performance characteristics.
Australia Law Reforms Commission (2003). Alrc 96: Essentially Yours.
Houlihan, B. M. J. (2004). "Civil Rights, Doping Control and the World Anti-Doping Code." Sport in Society 7(3): 420-437.
Human Genetics Commission (2006). Making Babies: Reproductive Decisions and Genetic Technologies.
Miah, A. and E. Rich (2006). "Genetic Tests for Ability? Talent Identification and the Value of an Open Future." Sport, Education & Society 11(3): 259-273.
O'Leary, J., Ed. (2001). Drugs and Doping in Sport: Socio-Legal Perspectives. London, Cavendish Publishing Limited.
Pitsiladis, Y. and R. Scott (2005). "The Makings of the Perfect Athlete." The Lancet: Special Supplement on Sport and Medicine 366: S16-S17.
Savulescu, J. and B. Foddy (2005). "Comment: Genetic Test Available for Sports Performance." British Journal of Sports Medicine 39: 472.
Spriggs, M. (2004). "Compulsory Brain Scans and Genetic Tests for Boxers - or Should Boxing Be Banned?" Journal of Medical Ethics 30: 515-516.
This week I gave a keynote at the first international conference on sport technology and develoment at the lovely city of Shah Alam. The Universiti Teknologi Mara did a great job with this meeting and it was fascinating to spend some time around Kuala Lumpur and the neighbouring regions (just dont take any food if you visit the Batu Caves)
This week, I will be giving an invited paper at the ECSS Annual meeting. This is really a special meeting for me as I see a lot of friends from a range of areas. It's also big, but not too big and this year takes me back to Lausanne again. I spent two months in Lausanne during the Spring of 2001 and it'll be great to be there once more. The presentation is within a session on Medical Ethics and Sports Medicine and I will speak to the following title: 'Steroids Aren't Cool': Criminalising Enhancement and the Politics of Healthcare Ethics. It should be a fun session.
Originally uploaded by andymiah.
Today (ok, last week - 21 June), I attended the first session of the government inquiry into HETs in Sports. It was the first time I had visited Westminster Palace and what more suitable occasion could there have been? I have been in touch with the Committee’s secretariat these last few months, chipping in with my suggestions about possible areas of inquiry. I arrived to the Palace around 845am, after an early morning down from Liverpool. Eventually finding Committee Room 6, it was nice to see some familiar faces. The Committee had kindly reserved seats for myself and Nick Bostrom offering us an opportunity to offer some pointed observations. Typically, the celebrity speaker – Linford Christie – arrived fashionably late and it was a personal pleasure to have heard him speak on this topic. I don’t have many childhood heroes and I was hardly a child when Linford was at his peak, but he remains one of my significant others in the sports world and I still have strong memories of him lining up for the beginning of a 100m race and even his running style. He was characteristically entertaining and upbeat about the issues and I took great care to notice his reactions to the various points of debate. It struck me that this man of such great sporting achievement remains a young athlete who was passionate about something he could do very well. In some ways, athletes are the Peter Pans of our modern day, defying the ageing process and defying human limits in the process.
The debate itself was most certainly engaging and a great starting point. Julian stepped up an offered a ‘let them take drugs’ position, while some of the audience members either cringed at the thought or were frustrated at being back to the position they were in 40, 20, 8 or 5 years ago, depending what landmark you use. However, I think this Committee is ready to ask difficult questions about the legitimacy of current doping regulations and Julian's position was certainly not shouted down. In fact, I think many people in this world of sport see the current regulations as a moral crusade, which is shielding the fact that this is an unworkable situation.
I have some concerns that the points of debate will be reduced primarily to doping discussions, when I believe the form of this Inquiry should be broader. There are a number of technologies that have not yet been discussed and we need to consider those too.
Well, I don’t want to get into my specific responses here. These will be submitted to the Committee in due course. I’m just very glad that this is happening. When I met Dr Ian Gibson MP in my home city of Norwich one afternoon in July after the publication of Genetically Modified Athletes, this was the very kind of inquiry we were discussing. Unlikely though it is that our conversation led to this initiative, I’ll happily tell the story that way! (thank you very much!). After all, as Phil Wills, Chair of the Inquiry said at the beginning of this morning, this is the very first time in history that the British government has looked into such a subject. And I would have been just happy to be an ‘also-ran’.
I just arrived into Denver, where the weather is not looking great. This is bad news as I have booked a Harley Davidson for a day at the end of the ACSM meeting. It is my first time at ACSM and I am really looking forward to it. I have heard so much about this meeting over the years. As always at science/medical meetings, I spend most of my time listening and trying to make sense of it all. Our session is invited by the ACSM and is about Gene Doping. The panel includes Gary Wadler from New York Medical School, Olivier Rabin from WADA and is Chaired by Stephen Roth at the University of Maryland.
After this, I conclude my USA whirlwind trip and look forward to getting back in the UK for a while. First thing to do - besides marking, etc - will be to obtain a China tourist visa for Beijing in the summer. I gather they can take some time to obtain.
