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Abstract
In this article, the authors describe relatively recent efforts by scientific research agencies to promote, through various funding programs, the integration of social sciences and humanities with the natural sciences. This “integrated” approach seeks to study science through a broader interdisciplinary lens in order to better anticipate, understand, and address its ethical, legal, and social implications. The authors review the origins and evolution of this trend, as well the arguments which have been formulated by both proponents and critics of integration. By using Genome Canada's “GE3LS” Research Program as a case study, the authors discuss the successes and continuing challenges of this model based on evaluation results available to date. The authors then go on to examine and compare three possible models for improving the future success of the GE3LS research program, including: 1) enhancing the current integrated research approach through incremental refinements based on concrete evidence and lessons learned; 2) promoting greater interaction and synergy across GE3LS research projects through a deliberate, systematic and coordinated “hub and spoke” approach; and 3) taking a broad programmatic approach to GE3LS research by creating a central resource of available expertise and advisory capacity.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank our colleagues at Genome Canada and Genome British Columbia, as well as David Castle, James Lavery, and Shane Green for their helpful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts.
At the time of writing this article, Patricia Kosseim was Chief GE3LS Officer, and Sheila Chapman was GE3LS Program Manager at Genome Canada. The views in this article are those of the authors alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the individuals we consulted or of Genome Canada.
Notes
1. Though we are not suggesting that the emergence of integration programs is the inevitable outcome of the broader discussion about science and society, we do believe it is informed—if not influenced—by it.
2. The recent Monitoring Activities of Science in Society in Europe (MASIS) Report of the European Research Area provides an extensive discussion of several of these trends (CitationEuropean Communities, 2009).
3. Genome B.C., Genome Alberta, Genome Prairies, Ontario Genome Institute, Genome Québec, Genome Atlantic.
4. The balance of the $1.7 billion is co-funding by provincial governments, charitable organizations, and private sector.
6. Lay summaries of integrated GE3LS projects funded by Genome Canada can be accessed online at http://www.genomecanada.ca/en/portfolio/research/ competition3.aspx for Competition III 2005–06 and at http://www. genomecanada.ca/en/portfolio/research/applied.aspx for the Competition in Applied Genomics Research in Bioproducts or Crops (ABC). At the time of publication, lay summaries of the integrated GE3LS components of genomics projects funded as part of the 2010 Large-Scale Applied Research Competition were not yet available.
7. For example, in Competition I (April 2001) and Competition II (July 2001), each regional Centre was responsible for establishing a research program in GE3LS. In the Applied Human Health Competition (May 2003), applicants were asked to take into account any relevant GE3LS issues or considerations. In Competition III (July 2004), applicants had to consider the GE3LS aspects of their proposed research and, where appropriate, seek advice from one or more GE3LS experts to develop a plan to address those GE3LS issues directly raised by the proposed research. In the Applied Genomics Research in Bioproducts or Crops (ABC) (April 2008), all applicants had to consider the GE3LS issues arising from their proposed research and develop a plan to address them. In the 2010 Large-Scale Applied Research Competition (May 2010), application guidelines were further refined to clarify the role of the GE3LS co-applicant(s), their active engagement throughout the research planning and implementation phases, and their contribution to the overall genomics project as active member(s) of the research team. More specifically, “GE3LS co-applicants are expected to develop a scholarly research plan that is aligned with, and complementary to, the proposed milestones of the overall genomics project. The GE3LS research plan should involve a systematic investigation designed to advance generalizable knowledge in relevant academic fields that can be applied to the proposed genomics project, as well as other similar projects or applications.” And, “GE3LS co-applicants are encouraged to coordinate, wherever possible, with other GE3LS researchers working on similar questions in other Genome Canada-funded projects to maximize opportunities for synergies and minimize potential duplication” (see Genome Canada's Guidelines for Funding Large-scale Research, May 2010, pp. 5–6: Available at http://www.genomecanada.ca/medias/pdf/en/guidelines-competition-2010.pdf).
8. It is important to recognize that much valuable social sciences and humanities (SSH) research gets done outside integration models. However, for the purposes of this article, we have chosen to focus on integration models as means of conceptualizing, organizing, and funding SSH research in relation to science.
9. Although GE3LS integration has always been encouraged of Genome Canada applicants, the “mandatory” wording of the requirement became clearer in Competition III and clearer still in the ABC Competition, see descriptions above.
10. See as an example, Feature article “To Share or not to share—Should genetic test results be reported back to participants?” in Genome Canada's electronic GE3LS newsletter, Impact: Genomics and Society. Available at http://www.genomecanada.ca/en/ge3ls/newsletters/fall-2009/feature-stories.aspx#story-3.
11. Peter W. B. Phillips, Professor, Department of Political Studies, University of Saskatchewan, and David Castle, Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Ottawa.
12. Principal investigators are Dr. Peter Singer and Dr. Abdallah Daar of the University of Toronto and Dr. James Lavery of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto.