International Center for Bioethics, Culture and Disability
In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Martin Niemoeller(1892-1984)
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My name is Gregor Wolbring. I am a ability governance researcher, a health researcher, a vari-ability//ability/disability studies scholar, a governance of science and technology researcher, a bioethicist and a biochemist.
Key Interests: Ability and ableism ethics and governance; History of thalidomide and thalidomiders; Disability Studies; Social, ethical, legal, economic, environmental, cultural and governance issues of new, emerging and converging sciences and technologies (S&T) such as nanoscale S&T (feed, food, water…), molecular manufacturing, aging, longevity and immortality research, cognitive sciences, neuromorphic engineering, genetics, synthetic biology, bodily enhancement S&T, in vitro meat, artificial intelligence and robotics; Impact of S&T on: marginalized populations especially disabled people; Sports; human security, human right, personhood, sentient rights; concept of disability impairment, ableism and transhumanism; models and determinants of health; global health, tele-health, health- (technology assessment, law, care and policies); medical anthropology; foresight studies, history, bioethics issues, biochemistry, role of different stakeholders and evaluation of existing S&T discourses.
(full CV here). If you have any questions please contact me by e-mail
The Choice is Yours my biweekly column
My blog on new and emerging technologies
A blog to which I also contribute called What Sorts of People
Academic Appointments
- Adjunct Faculty, Critical Disability Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada
- Tenure track Assistant Professor appointment with the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Dept of Community Health Sciences, Program of Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies (CRDS) 2008-
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, Dept. of Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, University of Calgary, Canada 1999-2008 (replaced by the tenure track position)
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, John Dossetor Health Ethic Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 2002-2005
- Founding Member and Affiliated Scholar, Center for Nanotechnology and Society at Arizona State University, USA 2005-
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine University of Calgary 2005-2008 (replaced by the tenure track position)
- Part Time Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Canada, Sept 2007-
Affiliation (a selection)
CML 4104D – Studies in Public Law: Emerging Sciences and Technologies: Legal, Ethics, Governance and Policy Discourse (3 credits)