LIVING DOLLS: THE GENETIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF REYKJAVIK

by Gavin Yau

To be situated in the year 2035, in the city of Reykjavik, Iceland. The world has succumbed to a battle of diseases and natural illness such as Cancer, SARS and the COVID-19 Pandemic. As the world advances in its scientific research, humanity has come to question as to whether we should use methods such as CRISPR CAS-9 and vaccine production to challenge any future health issues. This subject matter is extremely controversial, due to the act of playing god and the ethical issues which arise in modifying humanity.

The proposal is a Genetic Research Foundation located in the proposed New Midborg masterplan. To be formalised by five of Iceland’s leading research institutions, the foundation challenges the perception of transparency within the scientific and pharmaceutical industry. How can we integrate and educate Reykjavik and the wider world to understand both the positive and negative effects of genetic engineering?