Empowering People: Genetic Counselling in Focus
2nd October 2019
The exhibit was launched at the Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre during the October 2019 World Congress on Genetic Counselling and ran through June 2020. It features a series of videos of genetic counsellors speaking candidly about their work, produced by the Society and Ethics Research team, and docuportrait photography of the counsellors captured by Chrystal Ding.
Becky Gilmore, Exhibitions & Interpretation Coordinator for Wellcome Genome Campus Public Engagement, says:
“The Wellcome Genome Campus is home to cutting-edge scientific research but also to social science researchers leading the way in examining the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics. With a subject as broad and fast-moving as genomics, why choose to stage an exhibition about genetic counselling? The increase
of genetic testing means that all of us are closer to potentially discovering things about ourselves – whether we want to know them or not. Genetic counselling is vital in empowering people to make decisions about genetic information that are right for them. Everyone in society should have the opportunity to consider what these tests could mean, and be able to contribute their voice to the discussion. This, in addition to the growing evidence base of genetic counselling research at the Wellcome Genome Campus, meant that an exhibition wasn’t just timely but necessary.
The exhibition uses work from the Society and Ethics Research team and contains the voices of eight genetic counsellors sharing what it is that they do and how this supports people to make choices that are right for them and their unique circumstances. To explore the work of these counsellors in further detail we commissioned documentary photographer Chrystal Ding to capture them in their working environment. Most importantly we invite you to consider what this subject means to you. What are your views?”
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