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Using Collins Dictionary, the word ‘Cancel’ means ‘to revoke or annul: to delete: to cross out’, and the word ‘Culture’ means ‘The total of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitutes the shared bases of social action: The total range of activities and ideas of a people. We expect that nearly everyone reading this has come across an instance of modern Cancel Culture. Whether that be a canceled actor, comedian or writer. This group project will look into the history of Cancel Culture, contemporary examples of Cancel Culture and from these attempt to predict the future of this phenomenon.

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Free speech. We all know it, we all love it. But is it really loved by all? Xi Jinping certainly doesn’t love it, with gamers under the age of 18 in China only being allowed to game for 3 hours during the weekend. Or Stalinist Russia, where you were killed for disagreeing with the government. In this group project we discuss from all angles free speech, its influence, and its consequences. We also discuss to what extent is speech free, with laws coming into place such as Bill C-16 in Canada which makes some phrases an illegal offence, and to what extent this curbs or increases our freedom of speech.

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Veganism could be considered a hypernym containing many conflicting topics. Our project is a discussion of how the planet would be affected if everyone was to turn vegan tomorrow, looking at society, culture, environment, animal welfare, and the meat industry. We have explored the impacts that this change would have on the world, and the necessity of this change to ensure humanity’s own survival on a planet facing major destruction due to climate change. Our actions contribute greatly to this, whether individually or institutionally. Therefore, it is important that we look at how our choices can influence the future, positively or negatively, depending on what we choose.

Interesting mockumentary by Simon Amstell exploring similar issues: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p04sh6zg/simon-amstell-carnage

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Project Group 3 (Broccoli Swing) – Kaitlyn Mann, Olivia Legates, Cara Corlett, Isabel Higgins, Holly McCarthy

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Embryo #30 Female

• Higher than average risk of a cleft
• Lower than average risk of autism and ADHD
• Brown hair, green eyes
• Expected career paths: lawyer, politician, police officer

Embryo #58 Male

• Lower than average risk of cystic fibrosis
• Blond hair blue eyes
• 60% chance of above-average school grades

The future of designer babies may look something like this. You may remember a scenario like this from the satirical novel Brave New World. 

Designer babies are foetuses that have been selected for implantation due to what genes they have. This is a process that is currently used in genetic screening to eradicate defects particularly those which are hereditary.

However, there is a worry that this will be extended to choose all genes, not just those that aren’t defective but genes that determine eye and hair colour as well as the chance of a high IQ, and possibly a race of superhumans will be born.

So the question is where do we draw the line?

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Gender has a large role in our society, in many aspects we do not even realise. Our modern society is making large developments for the benefit of the greater good, the future looks prosperous and bright. But how is gender holding us back ? is the confinement of the normalised male and female stopping us from reaching out full potential? Is there a part of our society we haven’t opened up to because of the constraints of out society. A fluidity could provide a positive and happier future. The next generations to come will could embrace a life were gender isn’t a problem, its a thing f the past. The septum goes far beyond our current understanding. Humans are so much more complex to fit into a box, the future should allow us be free to be our true self’s.

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In the height of the pandemic, COVID-19, everyone was encouraged to stay indoors for their own safety. This was a very difficult time for everyone, impacting people’s mental health in a detrimental way. It created a spike in loneliness, especially for those living alone. This continues to be an issue for many who are reluctant to leave their home unnecessarily, due to COVID-19. Could these feelings of loneliness be solved with the development of technology, specifically AI (artificial intelligence)? Many people use AI every day, whether it is SIRI, Alexa, or Google Home. The question we raise is: Will AI develop to a point where people can have emotional relationships with them? In this group project we discuss if the development of AI, and therefore AI based relationships would be ethical and if it is feasible based upon society’s attitudes and ideas about artificial intelligence. We also consider whether the development of technology will allow for AI based relationships in the future.

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AI, Death and Grieving – The Future 

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“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” wrote Benjamin Franklin in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy in 1789. 

Death is a natural step in everyone’s existence on this planet, and the last one. But just because it is natural, this does not equal easy. Whoever stays behind must go through a period of grieving in which they will miss their loved ones. The ones grieving will spend forever wishing they could still see their loved ones and talk to them. 

The people that are left behind go through a tough grieving period in which they will miss the person that died and wished they could still see and talk to them. It is a slow, miserable process, getting used to someone’s absence. 

But what if it could be made easier? What if with the help of technology, you were able to have your loved one still in your life? What if you did not have to mourn and grieve? 

With the advancement in technology, this will all become a reality. In one hundred years-time we will be able to create a humanoid droid and upload an AI version of the person that died. This design will stay around to help the living accept their death and move on in a less painful way. The technology will be designed completely for you, functioning just as your loved one once did. This product will be a monthly or yearly subscription and can be cancelled at any time. This lenient subscription allows those who are grieving to be in control of their pathway to guide their process right up until the end.

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This group project focuses on designer babies and whether they are a positive development for our future or not. We would like you to join us in exploring the positives and negatives of designer babies, some specific examples of designer babies including cases which had the potential to be tragic and others which ended with a hopeful outlook for the future of designer babies, the public opinions of designer babies and the opinions of our peers. We chose this topic as it was something we thought would be interesting to learn more about and through the process of creating our report, presentation, and poster we have been faced with some truly thought-provoking questions and have come to some exceedingly difficult conclusions and opinions. For this reason, we want to welcome you into the magical, scary, slightly science-fiction world of designer babies which we may have to get used to very soon as the potential for designer babies in the next 100 years is growing.   

Amy Fernie, Glen Maclean, Genevieve Dobson-Davies, Molly Flanagan

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