Professor Mianna Meskus studies scientific knowledge and technology as ways to govern life

Professor of Sociology Mianna Meskus has explored the impacts of scientific development on society. Her research specifically addresses knowledge production in biomedicine and biosciences. She has studied, among other things, reproduction, infertility treatments, genetic testing, and the role of biotechnology in the shaping of ageing whose applications are still partly unknown. 

Meskus examines established and emerging biotechnologies. For instance, how has the screening of abnormalities via genetics been justified in society? She summarises her research area as the scientific governing of life.

“The need for research arises from the paradox that while we need biomedical research to help us live healthier lives, scientific knowledge and technology increasingly encroach on human existence,” Meskus notes.

Governing through knowledge produces both inclusion and exclusion. In the future, people will have to consider, for example, who will be offered the latest treatment technologies, such as various biotechnological drugs. 

“Prioritisation must be done, and this, in turn, creates struggles over who gets access to services and who is excluded. It is the basic dynamic of the welfare state, but at the same time, it raises questions about inequality,” Meskus says.

Valuing human life based on health, gender, and embodiment also indicates governance. Professor Meskus has studied the valuation of life through infertility and ageing. Using ethnographic and text-analytical methods, the Research Council of Finland-funded VALDA project investigated how problems caused by involuntary childlessness and ageing are organised, managed, and valued in Finland. The topic was studied from the perspectives of medical and legal experts, as well as patients and their support communities.

New perspectives and public discussion on reproduction

Meskus supports basic research on society. The main goal is to produce high-quality social scientific research and participate in discussions in the field. Meskus began with historical sociology, using archival materials in her dissertation. Later, she adopted multi-sited ethnography as her research method.

Meskus also has experience in sparking broader discussions. The Reproductive Futures project, funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, was an Argumenta project led by Meskus together with Academy Research Fellow Riikka Homanen. The project organised events that brought together researchers, activists, policymakers, civil servants, and journalists. 

“We were able to network and popularise our research. In the best case, this is how new perspectives are produced for public discussion,” Meskus says. 

The research offered new perspectives and broadened societal discussions on changes in reproduction and the associated value conflicts. Researchers examined themes such as family formation, reproductive justice, and sustainable development.

“Our group investigated where concerns about reproduction are actually focused and which aspects are problematised. We have always been interested in what kinds of families are permitted in Finland and who is offered state-supported infertility treatments,” Meskus says.

Meskus is well-versed in the history of the subject, as her dissertation dealt with the advent of genetic medicine in Finland. At the time, many experts openly debated who should be allowed to reproduce in the Finnish nation-building.

“Critical social research analyses societal discourses on reproduction. We do not offer advice to support any political opinions. Instead, we highlight the consequences of nationalist rationales. History helps us understand why we can talk about reproduction in a certain way today and why some aspects, such as eugenic state control measures, are no longer deemed appropriate. Studying historical developments is therefore important in sociology as well,” Meskus points out.

Evaluating the future with people

Interested in the knowledge production in advanced biomedicine, Meskus set out in her postdoctoral project to study the use of stem cells from surplus embryos in fertility treatments in the pursuit of new medical breakthroughs. However, at that time, the focus shifted from using embryonic stem cells to iPS technology (induced pluripotent stem cells). Adult skin cell samples can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells. In the laboratory, they are differentiated into cell types and tissues that occur in individual development.

“In ethnographic field work, I noticed how researchers talked about craftwork with new technology and in producing new medical facts. As technology develops, we must ask how automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence shape what I call scientific craftwork," Meskus reflects.

Recently, Meskus has begun experimenting with speculative approaches and theorising about the futures of reproduction and ageing. When she has interviewed people about their reasons for donating biosamples for medical research, some have raised questions about the future use of their samples. A patient might have believed that their donated sample would only be used for research on the disease they had.

I am inspired by reading and writing, both alone and with others. I enjoy reading theoretical texts and contemplating their connection to the empirical world. My strength lies in understanding the relationship between theory and empiricism, which I am happy to teach and discuss with students

Professor Mianna Meskus 

Evaluating the future with people

Interested in the knowledge production in advanced biomedicine, Meskus set out in her postdoctoral project to study the use of stem cells from surplus embryos in fertility treatments in the pursuit of new medical breakthroughs. However, at that time, the focus shifted from using embryonic stem cells to iPS technology (induced pluripotent stem cells). Adult skin cell samples can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells. In the laboratory, they are differentiated into cell types and tissues that occur in individual development.

“In ethnographic field work, I noticed how researchers talked about craftwork with new technology and in producing new medical facts. As technology develops, we must ask how automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence shape what I call scientific craftwork," Meskus reflects.

Recently, Meskus has begun experimenting with speculative approaches and theorising about the futures of reproduction and ageing. When she has interviewed people about their reasons for donating biosamples for medical research, some have raised questions about the future use of their samples. A patient might have believed that their donated sample would only be used for research on the disease they had.

“Biotechnology has various potentials regarding the future but also many uncertainties. Even medical professionals do not have definitive knowledge about what will happen; they also speculate, for example, about the use of stem cells in future treatments. My research approach is becoming somewhat more dialogical, and we discuss possible futures with patients as well. The patient is a link between scientific knowledge production and the society,” Meskus explains.