Workshop on the Polygenic Turn

Harvard’s EDMOND J. SAFRA CENTER FOR ETHICS is hosting an academic workshop October 25-26, bringing together scholars from a variety of disciplines—social sciences, philosophy, and natural science—to probe the conceptual underpinnings of research and conclusions in the domain of the study of polygenic adaptations. This workshop has developed from a series of discussions beginning in early Fall of 2017. The title of the workshop is: “A workshop on interpreting the genetic bases of differences between populations and on the interactions among concepts used for research in social and natural sciences”.

We seek to understand the stakes of the “polygenic turn” in genetic science. Given that this research draws on the social and natural sciences, we believe that across multiple disciplines we need to do work together on the core concepts of this new paradigm. For instance, one needs to ask just how ‘populations’ are defined and selected for genetic analysis in the first place. When and why are ‘groups’ a natural unit of analysis for questions in genetics and evolutionary biology and according to what explicit and implicit criteria are individuals grouped? And with what consequences? Achieving viable operational definitions for a conversation at the interface of genetics, social science, philosophy, and ethics requires digging into questions such as these.

The workshop is also sponsored by the SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL and THE PROJECT ON RACE & GENDER IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE AT HARVARD’S HUTCHINS CENTER FOR AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH.

The workshop organizers are:

Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor; Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University

Anna DiRienzo, Professor, Department of Human Genetics, Committee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition, Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Phamacogenomics, Committee on Genetics, University of Chicago

Evelynn Hammonds, Chair, Department of the History of Science, Barbara Gutmann Rosenkrantz Professor of the History of Science, Professor of African and African American Studies, Harvard University

Alondra Nelson, President, Social Science Research Council; Professor, Department of Sociology, Columbia University

Molly Przeworski , Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University

FAQ:

Q: Is it possible to come to the workshop?

A: Unfortunately, the workshop is full. We do plan to provide a report after the meeting of key discussion themes.

Q: The New York Times described this meeting as off the record. Is that correct and if so, why is it off the record?

A: The meeting is off the record, and it is also a private workshop. We are bringing together scholars from multiple disciplines many of whom have not previously met or worked with each other. The process of developing an effective conversation requires time and a seminar-scale number of participants. We expect that this will be the first of many conversations and plan to share key themes from our conversation via a written report after the meeting.

Further inquiries can be directed to Anna Cowenhoven.