Science Gallery project explores “human-centred approach in an increasingly digitised immigration system”
An artist is sending pens containing ink mixed with synthetic DNA to UK border ministers, officials and MPs to explore the human experience of an increasingly digitised immigration system.
The DNA encodes testimonies from people detained by the immigration system to raise awareness about the experiences of those affected by policy decisions.
Top of the project’s list for receiving a pen is Suella Braverman, the home secretary. Research Professional News has asked the Home Office for comment.
Science Gallery exhibit
The project, titled Between the Lines, has a display at the Science Gallery in London. The artist, Birmingham-based Sarah Selby, plans to send the pens in September and October as part of the exhibition.
“We are awaiting the synthetic DNA which will be injected into pens and posted to individuals involved in decision making surrounding the UK border system,” she told Research Professional News.
The project focuses on how “automated decision-making and AI can reduce human experiences to statistical risk ratings” and “the risk that using algorithms within UK immigration and justice services could further disconnect individuals from the decisions made about them”.
It builds on a previous version of the project, exhibited at Martin Hall Gallery at Loughborough University in 2021.
International student focus
“The initial version was commissioned by Loughborough University during the Covid pandemic,” said Selby. It sent the pens to people “who were inadvertently—and often unknowingly—involved in upholding the UK border system, due to the outsourcing of administrative duties of the British Home Office”.
The project’s website describes it as “a creative intervention responding to the lived experiences of international students who have been impacted by the influence of the UK border control system on higher education institutions”.
The site says the project “uses DNA data storage technology to embed stories from the international student community back into the higher education administrative systems that govern them”.
Selby said that during the project’s first iteration the pens were sent to the administrative hubs of every UK university in possession of a student sponsorship licence, which is required by the Home Office to recruit international students.
“There were approximately 200 higher education Institutions in possession of a student sponsorship licence at this time,” she said. “The delivery addresses ranged from student support offices to UK visa and immigration compliance departments.”
As to the response, she said that “some pens were returned, many weren’t acknowledged, however I did receive some responses”.
Among the responses were comments such as “Good idea”, “This is a brilliant concept” and “I love this”.
Participant responses
“Slightly overwhelmed by the responsibility of this pen but I will try my hardest,” said one student services centre advisor.
Another receiver of the pen said: “Agree with the message that students [and] ‘people in general’ should be put first. Immigration is nothing but a benefit to society.”
The vice-chancellors’ group Universities UK declined to comment specifically on the project.
But a spokesperson said: “International students contribute massively to our universities both on and off campus.
“The high levels of interest in our universities from the international community highlights the world-leading status of our institutions, and it is vital that the UK remains an open and welcoming destination for international students, and that their contribution is recognised and valued.”