Masato Uchiyama: Thinking about ELSI with Students

2024/02/22

ELSI stands for Ethical, Legal and Social Issues, and refers to all issues other than technical ones that arise when using new science and technology in society. This term emerged from the need for social science research alongside scientific and technological research in genome research, which originated with the Human Genome Project in the 1990s, due to the significant social impact of the research. Today, it is seen as an issue to be considered when using various new technologies in society, not only in the life sciences but also in information science, including AI.

I am interested in genome editing technology, represented by CRISPR-Cas9, which won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, and I am conducting research on ELSI related to this technology. While genome editing technology allows for the simple and efficient modification of genetic information, ethical issues such as the impact on future generations have been pointed out regarding its use on human embryos. There are also social issues related to the use of genome editing technology in crops and livestock. I have used questionnaire surveys targeting the general public and patients with hereditary diseases to investigate how non-expert citizens think about this technology and what researchers and policymakers need to focus on in order to use the technology in society. I have also been involved in developing teaching materials that provide opportunities for high school and junior high school students to think about ELSI together.

In high schools, starting from the 2024 academic year, a curriculum based on the Academic Advisory Board guidelines announced in 2018 will be implemented for all grades. Within these Academic Advisory Board guidelines, the importance of conducting education from a cross-curricular perspective across the entire school is emphasized. To think about ELSI, not only an understanding of science and technology but also knowledge of civics and ethics, as well as language skills to express one's own thoughts, are required. I believe that using ELSI as a subject leads to cross-curricular learning, so I actively incorporate it into my classes. Currently, I am conducting classroom practices themed on ELSI related to regenerative medicine and genomic medicine, and I am preparing classroom practices related to neuroscience and AI. I hope to continue thinking about ELSI with my students through my classes.