Navigating biosafety concerns within COVID-19 do-it-yourself (DIY) science: an ethnographic and interview study.

ABSTRACT: Non-establishment or do-it-yourself (DIY) science involves individuals who may not have formal training conducting experiments outside of institutional settings. While prior scholarship has examined the motivations and values of those involved in the subset of DIY science known as "DIY biology," little research has addressed how these individuals navigate ethical issues in practice. The present study therefore aimed to understand how DIY biologists identify, approach, and resolve one particular ethical issue-biosafety-in their work. We conducted a digital ethnography of Just One Giant Lab (JOGL), the primary hub for DIY biology during the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently conducted interviews with individuals involved with JOGL. We found that JOGL was the first global DIY biology initiat

SUBMITTER: Wexler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10042665 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature