Critical Geographies of Biotechnology Governance: A Case Study of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes for Vector-Borne Disease Control

Sihota, Roshanne

Critical Geographies of Biotechnology Governance: A Case Study of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes for Vector-Borne Disease Control

dc.contributor.advisor	Blue, Gwendolyn
dc.contributor.author	Sihota, Roshanne
dc.contributor.committeemember	Burns, Ryan
dc.contributor.committeemember	Wasmuth, James
dc.date.accessioned	2024-07-04T20:52:41Z
dc.date.available	2024-07-04T20:52:41Z
dc.date.issued	2024-07-03
dc.description.abstract	Biotechnology governance has garnered significant attention in the last decade. One notable example is the use of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) to control vector-borne diseases (VBDs) such as malaria and dengue fever. While promising, GMMs are controversial. Some scientists and public health agencies support GMMs, however not all groups welcome biotechnology as a disease control measure. To date, most field trials have been met with controversial reception. While extensive literature addresses GMM governance, gaps remain including attention to geographical scale and scientific experts’ perspectives on engagement in governance processes. Considering these gaps, the objective of this thesis is to examine academic debates in GMM governance. Using methods such as a scoping review, and semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 14), this thesis asks two interrelated questions. Drawing on critical geographies of scale, the first question asks: How is scale represented in the academic literature on GMM governance, and what power dynamics do representations of scale uphold or challenge? Drawing on theories of public engagement in science and technology studies (STS), the second question asks: What perspectives do scientific experts hold regarding public engagement for GMMs? First, key findings reveal that in the academic literature, GMM governance is largely framed through global/local scalar binaries which run the risk of perpetuating historical inequalities between regions and groups in ways that limit the potential for democratic engagement. Second, key findings spotlight how the values and visions of scientific experts, who are at the forefront of GMM development, play a central role in how public engagement unfolds. While participants valued the principle of engagement as an integral part of ethical research, most did not consider integrating engagement into research agenda-setting processes beyond GMM field trials. A critical geography lens provides an opportunity to examine how ideas and values around GMMs are embedded in sociocultural contexts. This research is timely given that these applications are in the early stages of development and oversight frameworks are evolving.
dc.identifier.citation	Sihota, R. (2024). Critical geographies of biotechnology governance: a case study of genetically modified mosquitoes for vector-borne disease control (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/119111
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
dc.subject	Vector-Borne Disease
dc.subject	Governance
dc.subject	Scale
dc.subject	Engagement
dc.subject	Critical Geographies
dc.subject.classification	Education--Social Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Geography
dc.title	Critical Geographies of Biotechnology Governance: A Case Study of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes for Vector-Borne Disease Control
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Geography
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Arts (MA)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.