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How do public audiences understand, and want to engage in, conversations about emerging biotechnologies? How are existing internet and media resources helping public audiences explore the deeper implications of emerging biotechnologies? Where are there opportunities to help people think more critically about how far we want to let technologies take us? In a partnership with scholars at Stanford University, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, we explored these questions through expansive media landscape research and qualitative audience research to identify what US adults know, think and feel about these issues. We focused on six key themes: Evolving with AI, Transforming Our Bodies, Chasing Immortality, Modifying Our Minds, Redesigning Life, and Quantifying Ourselves.

We created a comprehensive audience research and landscape report, which informed prototypes for a multimedia website (branded “Humanly Possible” to promote public engagement); thematic “State of the Science” video scripts and different types of content, including written interviews with diverse thinkers and practitioners, infographics capturing representations of biotechnologies in media, and provocative list-based articles. The project is now poised for implementation and iteration.