This talk examines the relationship between scientific innovation and social inequity. Drawing on work that investigates how racial and caste distinctions shape genomic science in Mexico, South Africa, India, and the US, Dr. Benjamin argues that it is the epistemic and normative dexterity of the field — not its strict enforcement of social hierarchy — that makes it powerful, problematic and, for some, profitable. Linking this insight to a range of contemporary issues at the nexus of data and democracy, Dr. Benjamin's aim is to expand our collective imagination around what counts as relevant and meaningful to scholarly work and political debate in this arena.

Keynote to a conference on “Where is the Human in the Data?”. Cosponsored by the UMN Informatics Institute, the Minnesota Population Center, the University Libraries and DASH—Digital Arts, Science + Humanities.