As a companion to GTECCC’s Guidance for Communicating on Gene Technology, a series of story-telling case studies are under development by GTECCC. Each of these case studies contains:
- a hypothetical scenario that potentially raises multiple questions for stakeholders who are communicating about gene technology
- the guiding questions as they appear in the main guidance
- a range of suggested considerations or possible actions for each of the guiding questions within the particular scenario.
Each of these scenarios, and the hypothetical responses to the guiding questions are intended as advice and/or suggestions only because:
- not every scenario can be predicted
- there are a variety of ways to answer the guiding questions
- the scenarios cannot cover all possible answers
- when communicating on gene technology individual circumstances will vary.
Individuals or organisations will need to think strategically about their individual approach to communications and adapt these suggestions to meet their own particular circumstances.
The current list of hypothetical scenarios and suggested responses to the guiding questions is as follows:
Communicating in an agricultural setting about the need for a GM food crop that responds to local climate change and the need for food security (Scenario A)
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A pub talk about gene editing by a current PhD student at a university (Scenario B)
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A research centre media officer managing media announcements and staff training about more ‘sustainable’ wheat (Scenario C)
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Journalists contacting multiple DIYBio Community Labs (Scenario E)
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Communicating about a clinical trial of gene therapy in a hospital setting (Scenario F)
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Communicating about an unexpected immune response in a clinical trial involving gene editing within a hospital setting (Scenario G)
Further explanation of the themes and literature that underpin the application of the guiding questions is provided in the background paper and further reading within the guidance.