Social Implications of Emerging Technologies in Agriculture

Rebecca Harrison is a Ph.D. candidate in science and technology studies at Cornell University. Her research considers how agricultural biotechnologists are deliberate, ethical actors navigating a complex political economy and increasing public concern about genetic engineering and other emerging agricultural technologies. She works with academic scientists to imagine a more reflective type of public engagement around their work. Her dissertation, tentatively titled "Safe sex for insects" and other stories: How land-grant scientists configure and enact their roles in working with controversial agricultural biotechnologies is supported with funding from the National Science Foundation and from the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture. 

Prior to graduate school, Becca received her B.S. in animal science and international agriculture, also from Cornell. Her exposure to biotechnological development at Cornell, time as an intern with the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, engagement with the agricultural biotechnology community through various writing positions and online engagement, extensive on-farm agricultural experience, and academic coursework and teaching have given her the standpoint necessary to appreciate not only the future role of this technology, but also the need for re-envisioning how its use is communicated, and its risk regulated.