Spotlighting Genomics at South by Southwest 2020

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) wants to put genomics in the spotlight at the SXSW Conference in Austin. NHGRI has put together four fascinating panels to help increase the public’s awareness of our cutting-edge research, innovations, the people behind them, and the need for important societal conversations.  Community voting is open and comprises 30% of the input for choosing the panels in the conference. All votes must be submitted by Friday, Aug. 23, at 11:59 p.m. PST. National DNA Day: A Science Education Movement National DNA Day is a movement to inspire students at all levels to learn about genomics and pursue genomic careers. To do this, we focus our efforts on increasing genomic literacy, providing educators with resources, and engaging with diverse communities.  VOTE Why am I Irish Yesterday and Italian Today? Humans are drawn to learn about where we come from. From stories passed down through generations to taking genetic ancestry tests, we are compelled to know more about our ancestors.  VOTE Creating a Space for Genomics in All Classrooms Learning about the science and ethics of genomics (just a fancy word for all your DNA) in the classroom has taken off.  We creatively bring cutting-edge genomic science to students across the nation and create spaces for difficult classroom conversations about privacy, racism, ethics, and identity.  VOTE Genomics in a Sea of Societal Issues How do you increase the genomic literacy of a nation against the background of busy lives and complicated societal issues like poverty, health disparities, discrimination, and historical trauma?  We will discuss the complexity of genomics in various communities. VOTE To vote, login or create an account at panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote. Each voter can vote once per proposal – select “arrow up” for yes or “arrow down” for no. SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery and creativity. This interactive conference is the place to preview future technologies of tomorrow and learn about the new advances and approaches being applied to improve outcomes in the communities where we live, work, and play. The SXSW EDU® Conference cultivates and empowers a community of engaged stakeholders to advance teaching and learning.