A Biomedical Engineer on the Real Science Behind Jurassic Park, Gattaca & Avatar
Could we actually resurrect dinosaurs like in Jurassic Park? Design our children’s traits like in Gattaca? Merge human consciousness with machines like in Ghost in the Shell? Dr. Nisha Iyer teaches biomedical engineering students at Tufts University by exploring the real science behind sci-fi movies—and the ethical questions they raise.
Dr. Iyer holds a PhD in biomedical research and serves as an assistant professor at Tufts University. She’s created a groundbreaking course called “Applications in Engineering: Sci-Fi Bioengineering” where first-year students examine five iconic science fiction films—Jurassic Park, Gattaca, Never Let Me Go, Ghost in the Shell (1995), and Avatar—to understand the foundational science depicted in each and grapple with the ethical dimensions of turning fiction into reality.
This is more than an academic exercise. Dr. Iyer connects cutting-edge biomedical research with the speculative visions that have fascinated audiences for decades, asking the questions that matter most. How close are we to these technologies? What are the unintended consequences? Just because we can develop something, should we?
I’ve always been drawn to science-based cautionary tales; I grew up devouring Michael Crichton, Ray Bradbury, Orwell, and Huxley. The best sci-fi simultaneously thrills and unsettles us, making us confront what scientific progress might actually mean for humanity. Like watching dinosaurs come to life before turning on their creators, or imagining falling in love with an AI assistant, or living entirely in virtual reality. These stories force us to think critically about the world we’re building.
In this conversation, we explore:
• The real science behind sci-fi films and how close we are to making them reality
• Genetic engineering, cloning, artificial organs, and consciousness transfer
• The ethical implications of designing offspring and resurrecting extinct species
• Why biomedical engineers need to think about consequences, not just capabilities
• How sci-fi serves as both inspiration and warning for scientists
• Teaching the next generation to ask “should we?” alongside “can we?”
📚 Learn more about Dr. Nisha Iyer: https://facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/nisha-iyer | Follow on Twitter: @NishaIyerPhD