Into the Wild: GM Mosquitoes on Trial

Uli Beisel studied psychology and sociology in Bremen (Germany) and Lancaster (UK). In 2006 she joined The Open University to pursue doctoral studies in Human Geography. Her doctoral work is concerned with malaria control in Ghana and the politics of co-existence between mosquitoes, parasites and humans. In August 2010 Uli will take up a Leverhulme postdoctoral fellowship at the Anthropologies of African Biosciences group at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Ann Kelly and Uli Beisel will examine the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to control malaria. With our combined expertise in the fields of human geography and anthropology we aim to develop a theoretical framework to deepen the focus of policy debate from the problems of public engagement and environmental risk to the socio-political practices of knowledge production and the epistemological assumptions underpinning global health care policy. During our time at Fondation Brocher we will situate the novel strategies of genetic control within broader philanthropic, policy and research contexts.