(un)natural: Ideas about naturalness in public and political debates about science, technology and medicine

When people describe something as natural, they might mean it is good, acceptable, safe or healthy. When something is described as unnatural, people can mean it is bad, unacceptable or dangerous. Views about what is natural or unnatural can affect the development and uptake of new technologies.

This project examined how ideas about naturalness feature in and affect public discussions about the ethics of science, technology and medicine. We enlisted poets to help us to explore these ideas in a creative way. Our recommendations aim to improve communication and understanding between people with different views about naturalness.

Project team