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Interview with CHE Partner, Dr. Gregor Wolbring
 Adjunct Professor, University of Calgary/ Affiliated with Arizona State University, University of Ottawa, a variety of NGO's, Biweekly column, Blog
Steve Heilig: Tell us your own background and how you came to do the work you do.
I am a thalidomider. Since being a kid, I've worked on disability rights issues. When I became a biochemist I became aware of certain discourses around biotech, ethics and disabled people which lead to my involvement in bioethics and governance of science and technology issues - the latest being nanotechnology and synthetic biology.
Over time I added in other areas such as health research and disability/ability studies. My work led over time to academic affiliations in disability/ability studies, health research, nanotechnology and society and bioethics and numerous NGO affiliations - see: http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/aboutme.html.
Advances in information technology led me to pursue online teaching which I do so far at University of Calgary and starting in 2007 also at Arizona State University.
I work as an individual with numerous groups. I might eventually set up an organization if someone wants to fund my angle on issues. Very high on my wish list is an endowed chair in ability studies to work within academia and outside on the human rights consequences of emerging technologies, of which ableism and transhumanism are two.
What is your primary mission in your work?
Investigating social (including health in the WHO definition sense) and ethical implications of emerging technologies such as Nanotechnology, Bio, Info Cognitive sciences neuroengineering and synthetic biology.
What is/are the most striking recent developments related to your work, both scientifically and otherwise?
The increasing popularity of transhumanism. The increasing ability of new and emerging technologies to modify humans beyond species typical boundaries.1 The change of properties of elements of the periodic table in their nano-form.
How CHE is useful / how could CHE be more useful?
CHE could be more useful if it: (a) includes nanotechnology and other emerging technologies such as synthetic biology, (b) includes social well-being, (c) looks also at social safety and social health and takes into account how the debate around social safety and health is impacted by CHE's discourse and strategy around environmental medical health and (d) does not just look at prevention of impairment and defects caused by environmental contamination which is mostly sold with a negative image of disabled people but gives at least as much space to the notion that disabled people see themselves as a variation of being and highlights the social problems of disabled people and the social solutions to them. That seems to be very timely after the UN just agreed on a Convention on the Rights on people with disabilities.
What have been the most significant obstacles and successes you have encountered and achieved in this work to date?
Obstacle: The very medical health view of looking at issues with the exclusion of the social component. The lack of funding for a social critique of emerging technologies especially from a marginalized population perspective.
Success: I was able to have major changes introduced in a variety of international documents. My students find the online courses I teach highly useful for themselves and perceive them as one of the best they ever enrolled in. That people who listen to my lectures often find the content highly useful to themselves.
What is the number one change you would like to see for the future of environmental health?
To include social health. Changes in public, business and medical education towards understanding and promoting environmental and social sustainability.
What or who continues to inspire you in your work?
The people I meet and my parents.
What do you see as the most important goal and/or obstacle to improving environmental health in our time?
Obstacle: The continuous focus on techno solutions for social problems. The strong influence of industry to shape public opinion and sell products even if they are bad or useless. With all the wars and injustice and the distributive inequity in basic needs such as water, education and other human securities one might feel that environmental health is the least of our problems.
Goal: Better discourse around what is really needed. Some articles available online: 1. Wolbring (2006) NanoRegulation: For Whom, With Whom, By Whom, For What? conference talk http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/Regulation.htm
2. Wolbring (2006) "Key Terminologies in the Field of Disability http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/whatishealth.html
3. Wolbring (2006) "The Triangle of Enhancement Medicine, Disabled People and the Concept of Health: A New Challenge for HTA, Health Research and Health Policy" a 220 page report. Published by the Health Technology Assessment Unit of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for medical research content here. http://www.bioethicsanddisability.org/HTAreportcontent.htm
4. Wolbring (2006) Powerpoint, CCOHTA Invitational Symposium NBIC Enhancement Medicine, Emerging technologies (Nano, Bio, Info, Cogno) and the Concept of Health: A New Challenge for HTA, Health Research, and Health Policy http://www.cadth.ca/media/symposium_pdfs/cadth_symposium06_ppt_Wolbring.pdf
5. Wolbring (2006) Journal of Health and Development (India), "Emerging Technologies (Nano, Bio, Info, Cogno) and the Changing Concepts of Health and Disability/Impairment: A New Challenge for Health Policy, Research and Care" Volume 2, Number 1&2, pp.19-37
6. Wolbring (2006) Peer Reviewed Three challenges to the Ottawa Spirit of Health Promotion, Trends in Global Health, and Disabled People (Commentary), September/October 2006 issue of the Canadian Journal of Public Health
7. Wolbring (2006) 'Nanofood' for the Oakland Institute (forthcoming)
8. Wolbring (2006) 'Nanotechnology for health and development' in Development 49.4 New Technologies and Development, published by Society for International Development (forthcoming)
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Posted: 9 November 2006
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