Team:Amsterdam/Human practices/techno vignette
Techno-moral Vignettes
Where the Application Scenarios tackle our iGEM project’s real world future applications, Techno-moral vignettes are short narratives that involve demonstrating the potential wider impacts that application of our project would have on society. For our techno-moral vignettes we give an inside look on a world where our bio-refineries have become the norm on a multinational scale. Here we demonstrate the “soft impacts”, both positive and negative, that adoption of our biorefineries might have on such a world. To visualize this, we present the front page of a newspaper from this time. We also present two vastly different family narratives from different parts of the globe, both of which are directly affected by the news from this paper. Take your time to explore the vignettes we offer here to become deeper acquainted with the way our iGEM project could impact the world.
Newspaper Front Page
Family Narratives
A Family in Crisis
Melanie looked up from her coloring book to see her father plop firmly into his favorite armchair. Along with the house, the armchair has been in the family for generations.
“Hi Daddy!”
“Hey sweetheart. How was school?”
“Fun! We got twenty more minutes of recess today!” she exclaimed.
“That’s nice, did you get to play with ... uh ... what’s his name ... your friend, Billy?” John, her father, asked while opening todays newspaper. Newspapers were hardly in circulation anymore as most people living in the city preferred a virtual transmission of their choice news straight to their googlebot. But in rural areas such as Melanie’s, old traditions die hard. John still enjoyed reading the newspaper everyday after work hours around 6 pm - even though he was already retired. Although Melanie didn’t always quite understand, she loved to listen as her father and older brother discussed whatever awesome event happened that day miles away from her own little town. “No daddy! Remember? Billy pulled my hair so I’m not talking to him anymore. We’re not friends until he says sorry!” She puffed as she faced back towards her colouring book. As John read the front headline of the newspaper, a horrible scowl formed on his face. He audibly whispered mostly to himself, “What? No more Cloyster subsidized products?” John gripped the newspaper firmly, and continued reading. Melanie could see his facial expression dampen. “What’s wrong?” Melanie asked. “This could be quite problematic.” John sighed and sat back before continuing. “The government passed a bill causing everything made by Cloyster to be a lot more expensive for people living outside the city like us.” “So? What’s the big deal?” “Well sweetheart...You know ever since Cloyster settled in this country, we have become more and more dependent on them. They manufacture many of the everyday things that make life out here manageable; especially the cheap fuel that keeps us warm and powers are cars. Other sources of these things are no longer easily attainable as they were years ago and would be too expensive for daddy to pay for on such little savings. Unfortunately, Cloyster factories are only in places near water and lots of sunlight - much like the city. It seems the government no longer can subsidize for us folk living in the country-side. I fear that with this bill, we will have to re-evaluate some things…” Before Melanie could ask what ‘subsidize’ meant, down the hall, someone opened the front door. “Sean. That you?!” Melanie’s mother yelled from the kitchen. “Yeah, mom it’s me. Where’s dad?” “Talking with Melanie in the living room,” Melanie heard Sean’s frantic footsteps as he made his way into the small living room. Her face lit up at the sight of him. “Sean! Did you bring me any donuts?” Melanie prodded. “No, sorry Melanie. Not now,” he turned to face his father, “Don’t tell me you’re just reading the news now dad! I told you to get a googlebot! Everyone at work’s done nothing but talk about it.” Tom paced as he spoke. “I knew the bill would pass. I just knew it. And I told you