What are the uses and abuses of science fiction in the aim of public engagement with medicine?

We can assess science fiction as if it were entertainment education, distinguishing beween legitimate extrapolation and genre misrepresentation. But are there more productive ways of thinking about how science fiction engages with medical expertise than simply the problematic distinction of ‘appropriate simplication’ versus ‘distortion’?

The Wellcome Trust-funded Science Fiction and the Medical Humanities project will be introduced by Gavin Miller and Anna McFarlane. We will be joined by Jenny Kitzinger who will speak on the topic of 'Science Fiction, Ethics and the Body: Clones, Coma Patients and Organ Harvesting' and David Lawrence from the Costumed Visions of Enhanced Bodies project on 'Costumed Visions of Enhanced Bodies: Ability, Humanity and the Science of the Superhero'.

The workshop will be held at the University of Glasgow on Friday the 27th of November 2015. Those making travel arrangements should note that there will be coffee available from 9.30 for a 10.30 start. Postgraduate and early career researchers may wish to apply to the attendance fund, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis, to support their travel expenses by emailing their requests to arts-scifimedhums[at]glasgow.ac.uk. You can also join our mailing list for this and future events by sending us an email.

Information about travelling to the university can be found on the University of Glasgow website.