Ethical, legal and societal aspects of new technologies (ELSA)

ELSA is an interdisciplinary approach to responsible and sustainable research and innovation.

The ELSA researchers belong to the research group Gene technology, environment and society which includes research, advice and capacity building on the philosophical, political, cultural and socio-ecological aspects of the application of novel and emerging technologies as genome editing. The researchers actively participate in large projects within responsible research and innovation (RRI) such as NewHoRRIzon and in national networks, such as AFINO.

ELSA integrates biotechnology, social sciences and humanities into interdisciplinary projects, were the researchers work both within, but also outside, their main field of training. We are particularly interested in exploring creative and new forms of communication across different areas of knowledge. ELSA concerns the involvement of different interest groups in our work. This includes the community, political groups, civil society organizations, industry, researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs and R&I staff. Through the work with policy reports and involvement in the public debate on safe use of biotechnology, the work in ELSA is closely related to the national and international politics. Recently, we have been working in particular with the operationalization of the Norwegian Gene Technology Act's criteria related to sustainability and ethics and the public perception of these criteria.