095252/Z/11/Z: Bio-Punk

Project Summary:This project will bring current biomedical research out of the laboratory and into the public arena, exploring both the possibilities and ethical dilemmas opened up by specific areas of research. Comma will commission and publish an anthology of ten short stories that imagine possible near-future scenarios arising out of biomedical research, and ask the authors to explore the ethical consequences that may accompany them. Each story will be inspired by the work of an allocated research scientist. Scientists will meet their allocated author, and introduce them to the key concepts, background science, and long-term applications of their research. The scientists will then act as consultants on the stories throughout their composition, fact-check them and write short explanatory 'afterwords' to accompany each one in the book. Publication of the anthology be accompanied by a short tour of public readings and discussions in Spring 2012.

Grant Holder:Mr Ra Page

Organisation:Comma Press

Financial Year:2010/2011