Lucía Guerrero Rivière

About me/Biography: 

Following my undergraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering at Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, I pursued an MA in Cultural Studies at the same university. Under Professor Alejandra Bello’s supervision, my dissertation examined cultural assumptions that undergird notions of human dignity and disability in Colombian law, and I became increasingly interested in the connections between embodiment and personhood from the perspective of the state. Most recently, I have been a Research Assistant for Professor Fernando Serrano, whose transdisciplinary work and mentorship have inspired me to begin research on the intersections between disability, political violence, and peacebuilding.

Highlights of my career so far: 

My undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering equipped me with a knowledge of different forms of technological development within biomedicine, but also raised questions about how these technologies fit into the broader cultural context, where they intervene in both individual and social bodies. Turning to the humanities and social sciences has definitely been a highlight of my career so far, along with the teaching opportunities I have had along the way. Both of these aspects have encouraged me to pursue different ways of engaging with knowledge production and distribution, which I hope to delve deeper into during my time at the Wellcome Centre!

My Project at WCCEH: 

Under Professor Judith Green’s supervision, I will be looking at disability and debilitation in the context of the Colombian post-conflict, focusing on narratives and practices of reconciliation as they relate to the body. Specifically, I aim to examine the place of disability (especially as a result of political violence) in Colombia’s political transition. I am also particularly keen on untangling the ethical and political dimensions of engaged research and its methodologies, and I hope to contribute in some way to the formulation of more equitable and contextualized public policies in matters of reparation.