My Secret Ambition to be a 
Social Scientist Saviour 
By Scott TBC

Here lies a death: 
my secret desire, 
the social scientist I thought I could be.
The one who would fix it all, 
who would open up debates, 
who would usher in an era of enlightened decision-making.

Subtle interventionist,

quietly shaping the governance of synthetic biology,

making space for diverse publics,

multiplying the types of knowledge drawn upon, 
the voices listened to, 
the envisioned futures.

And I would do it all from within 
the protective embrace of academia.

Good-bye, dream.

Hello, RRI fixed-term contract.