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Richard Milne

@rjmilne.bsky.social

Sociologist working on the social and ethical implications of new technologies in the life sciences, particularly in genomics and data science @randeurope and @uniofcambridge Header: Jamillah Knowles / Better Images of AI / Data People / CC-BY 4.0

147 Followers  |  226 Following  |  18 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2024  |  2.1375

Latest posts by rjmilne.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Fabricating mice and dementia: opening up relations in multi-species research This chapter was written during a moment of flux in the unravelling of the plaques, tangles, and tales that characterise over thirty years of research for treatments of dementia involving humans and a...

Our chapter on โ€˜Fabricating mice and dementia: opening up relations in multi-species researchโ€™ is now OA. @richgorman.bsky.social, Richard Milne and I explore the ways patient data, animal models and plaque concepts are woven together in making dementia www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK615...

24.07.2025 07:24 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Factors Affecting Public Engagement by UK Researchers 2025 Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Calling all researchers and public engagement professionals: we want to find out the factors affecting public engagement in 2025, including opportunities, risks and barriers. Help shape the future of public engagement with STEM by taking our survey: www.research.net/r/RS_public_...

27.05.2025 17:30 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 12    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Geoengineering could fight climate changeโ€”if the public can be convinced Researchersโ€™ failures to communicate are jeopardizing even basic tests, but new projects may point the way forward

The piece is more thoughtful about listening to (rather than just convincing) the public than the title suggests, and the Brexit effect on scientists' views of public engagement that it describes is definitely something I've seen in other areas www.science.org/content/arti...

04.04.2025 10:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Wellcome Connecting Science
Science Policy: Improving the Uptake of Research into UK Policy
Workshop dates: 18-20 August 2025
Location: The Moller Institute, Cambridge, UK
Application and bursary deadline: 3 June

Wellcome Connecting Science Science Policy: Improving the Uptake of Research into UK Policy Workshop dates: 18-20 August 2025 Location: The Moller Institute, Cambridge, UK Application and bursary deadline: 3 June

๐Ÿ’ก Spark new thinking to shape the future of #SciencePolicy!
Applications are open for our #SciPol25 workshop.

๐Ÿ“…18-20 August

We invite researchers and policymakers to share perspectives on best practices for improving the uptake of #research into UK science policy

๐Ÿ“ฉApply by 3 June
โžก๏ธ bit.ly/41GxNmG

01.04.2025 06:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Identifying trust cues: how trust in science is mediated in content about science Most public audiences in Germany receive scientific information via a variety of (digital) media; in these contexts, media act as intermediaries of trust in science by providing information that prese...

Introducing โ€˜trust cuesโ€™ โ€“ new #scicomm research paper by Justin Schrรถder, Janise Brรผck & Lars Guenther to identify trust cues in media content โ€“ see doi.org/10.22323/2.2...

25.03.2025 06:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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23andMeโ€™s bankruptcy is the worst thing that could happen to just about everyone involved The genetics company's bankruptcy is bad for co-founder Anne Wojcicki and shareholders. But customers whose data may not be protected are worst off.

23andMeโ€™s bankruptcy is the worst thing that could happen to just about everyone involved

25.03.2025 16:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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In Digital Genetic Data, An Uncertainty Over Ownership Digital sequence information has radically changed the way researchers look at the worldโ€™s genetic resources.

Digital Sequence Information (DSI) has transformed biological research, allowing scientists to find genetic tools online without physically collecting specimens. But this creates a legal gray area around benefit-sharing and ownership.

14.03.2025 15:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Six unbelievable things you probably didnโ€™t know about DNA - Wellcome Sanger Institute Blog Explore the surprising secrets of DNA, genes and genomes.

#OnThisDay in 1953, the structure of DNA was discovered โ€“ the double helix ๐Ÿงฌ

Our understanding has grown exponentially since then, here are a few interesting things weโ€™ve learnt along the way โคต๏ธ

sangerinstitute.blog/2022/05/17/s...

28.02.2025 14:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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A question posed in every media since cave painting

27.02.2025 16:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Engineering Biology and the Public: Navigating Engagement and Trust | Engineering Biology in Cambridge Dr Richard Milne, Head of Research and Dialogue at Wellcome Connecting Science, shares with us his thoughts on engineering biology and the importance of engaging the public in meaningful conversations...

Trust and public engagement in engineering biology www.engbio.cam.ac.uk/news/enginee...

18.02.2025 22:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Genomic data sharing: you donโ€™t know what youโ€™ve got (till itโ€™s gone) - Nature Reviews Genetics Reflecting on the core values of early data sharing agreements, the Bermuda Principles and the Fort Lauderdale Agreement, Kathryn E. Holt and Michael Inouye emphasize the need to reaffirm our commitme...

Nice piece from @mikeinouye.bsky.social and @katholt.bsky.social on how decisions about data sharing "answer fundamental questions, such as: what do we want science to look like" www.nature.com/articles/s41...

14.02.2025 10:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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What went wrong at 23andMe? Why the genetic-data giant risks collapse At-home DNA testing is no longer in high demand โ€” and critics have raised concerns about unreliable tests and privacy.

It's all gone pear-shaped at 23andMe. Which is not a bad thing, given the misleading view of genetics that it encouraged. As Diana's article mentions, just telling people they carry a risk variant can be very problematic.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

10.02.2025 20:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 56    ๐Ÿ” 23    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Yep, learn from the wisdom of youth

08.02.2025 20:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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I guess we can't even look up genes at NCBI any more

06.02.2025 12:47 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Government needs to show that its AI plan can be trusted to deal with serious risks when it comes to health data The use of patient data has been controversial in the past.

๐Ÿ”Ž #๐—”๐—œ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ #๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐——๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฎ: ๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ด๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜?

@rjmilne.bsky.social and @jonathanrgoodman.bsky.social explore the challenges in demonstrating trustworthiness in this @uk.theconversation.com article.

๐Ÿ”— cstu.io/a01e19

@sangerinstitute.bsky.social @connectingscience.bsky.social ๐Ÿงฌ๐Ÿงช๐Ÿ”ฌ

04.02.2025 14:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Government needs to show that its AI plan can be trusted to deal with serious risks when it comes to health data The use of patient data has been controversial in the past.

In an article for @uk.theconversation.com, @rjmilne.bsky.social and I argue that while the UK's plan to foster innovation through AI is ambitious, it will rely on public trust for success.

Yet anyone can claim to be trustworthy: how do we tell who actually is?

theconversation.com/government-n...

04.02.2025 09:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Got to pick mine up from the office, but looks great. I really enjoyed having the chance to write with you both, thank you!

27.01.2025 15:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Opinion | The Long Shadow of Fraud in Alzheimerโ€™s Research (Gift Article) Fraud in research needs to end.

"The Devastating Legacy of Lies in Alzheimerโ€™s Science" from @charlespiller.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/o...

24.01.2025 14:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Multi-Species Dementia Studies Multi-Species Dementia Studies - Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach; This edited book explores multi-species approaches to dementia care. Drawing on work linking social and veterinary sciences, it ...

This book on multi species dementia is out at the end of this month, featuring me, @rjmilne.bsky.social and @richgorman.bsky.social reflecting on what is modelled in mouse models of #dementia and how this is made sense of by patients in #PPI policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/multi-specie...

23.01.2025 08:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Brilliant! I hadn't realised it was set to come out. Look forward to seeing the whole collection

23.01.2025 15:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Out now in Nature Human Behaviour: Our 68-country #survey on public attitudes to #science ๐Ÿ“ฃ
It shows: People still #trust scientists and support an active role of scientists in society and policy-making. #OpenAccess available here: www.nature.com/articles/s41... @natureportfolio.bsky.social
(1/13)

20.01.2025 10:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 363    ๐Ÿ” 164    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7    ๐Ÿ“Œ 21

I have a post-doc position to study the effect of AI on education.

How can we ensure that AI tools enhance natural intelligence?

The position is a part of the Estonian Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence.

Please repost - not easy to get people to work in Estonia ๐Ÿฅถ

#edusky #neuroAI

13.01.2025 12:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 75    ๐Ÿ” 62    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Public Attitudes for Genomic Policy Brief: familiarity Global Alliance for Genomics & Health - โ€œPublic Attitudes for Genomic Policy Brief: familiarityโ€

The importance of public trust and institutional trustworthiness in genomic data sharing
www.ga4gh.org/document/pub...

and global attitudes towards the return of results from genomic research (and whether the USA is an outlier in this)
www.ga4gh.org/document/pub...

17.01.2025 14:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Public Attitudes for Genomic Policy briefs: What does the UK public think about the storage and use of its genetic data? Global Alliance for Genomics & Health - โ€œPublic Attitudes for Genomic Policy briefs: What does the UK public think about the storage and use of its genetic data?โ€

UK public attitudes towards the storage and use of genomic data

www.ga4gh.org/document/pub...

17.01.2025 14:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Public attitudes for genomic policy brief: genomic data sharing in Singapore The National Precision Medicine Program in Singapore is conducting ongoing consultation of Singaporeans to gather insights on the publicโ€™s opinions about genomic data sharing to inform related data go...

Previous briefs have looked at attitudes towards genomic data sharing in Singapore, www.ga4gh.org/news_item/pu...

17.01.2025 14:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Public perceptions of international genetic information sharing for biomedical research in China: a case study of the social media debate on the article โ€œA Pangenome Reference of 36 Chinese Population... Background The international disclosure of Chinese human genetic data continues to be a contentious issue in China, generating public debates in both traditional and social media channels. Concerns ha...

It draws on the authors' 2024 Human Genomics paper humgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

17.01.2025 14:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

In the REWS group of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health we have coordinated a series of briefs on public attitudes to genomic data sharing. The latest looks at public perceptions of international genetic information sharing for biomedical research in China www.ga4gh.org/news_item/pu...

17.01.2025 14:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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We need to talk about human genome editing In a few decades, gene-editing technologies could reduce the likelihood of common human diseases. Societies must use this time to prepare for their arrival.

www.nature.com/articles/d41... new frontiers in discussions about hhge - editing for polygenic risk

08.01.2025 17:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Great to see this out!

08.01.2025 16:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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๐Ÿšจ My team is hiring an undergraduate intern (UK universities only) - a great opportunity, if I can say so myself!

Please share widely.

Want more info? See here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

08.01.2025 08:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 24    ๐Ÿ” 37    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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