‘Constructing Life’ and ‘Pandora’s box’ – Metaphor use in the public sphere and its implication for shaping public perception of synthetic cells.
Bettina Graupe (Bettina.Graupe@ru.nl) [1], Lotte Krabbenborg [1], Hub Zwart [2]
[1] Institute for Science in Society, Radboud University Nijmegen, [2] ESPhil, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Print and online newspapers, magazines and websites are some of the public’s primary sources of information regarding the development of emerging sciences and technologies, such as synthetic biology (SynBio). Framing of SynBio in these media, meaning the way and context in which SynBio is presented, can have substantial influence on shaping public opinions and attitudes. It has been recognized that metaphors may contribute to this shaping process. Science journalists for example often engage in the use of metaphorical language to convey complex scientific issues to a broad public – a pattern also visible in communication strategies of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
This paper explores prevalent metaphorical representations of SynBio, but more specifically of synthetic cells, in the public sphere. We will first present results from a content analysis of SynBio coverage in online reports of the ETC Group over the years 2006 – 2018. They reveal that NGOs often use metaphors to focus public attention on potential negative consequences arising from SynBio. Next, the paper turns towards metaphors used by fundamental scientist and science journalists with regard to synthetic cells. Taking 2010 as a starting point (the year Craig Venter announced his first ‘synthetic cell’) we conducted a media content analysis on the representation of synthetic cells in Dutch-language print and online news articles up to 2019.
Conclusively, the paper aims to provide empirical insight into the framing of synthetic cells within the public sphere as done by NGOs, fundamental scientists, and journalists and addresses the potential function of metaphors in shaping public discourse around the concept of synthetic cells.
