As a member of the BLUE scholarship program, I have conducted research through the unconventional paradigm of material culture. Using objects as my data, I explore, and invite others to reflect on the important role of privacy in social, neural, and legal domains through the interactive museum exhibit: Preserving Privacy.

The curtain that divides which pieces of ourselves are available to the public and which remain “backstage” plays an important role in maintaining our humanity. The ability to carry on our inner lives free from public perception, to curate what is shared with others is a consistent filtering process underlying identity and relationships.

As  neurotechnology continues to develop, it poses questions for our mental privacy and the legal regulations in place to protect it. How, in an age of such interconnectedness can we maintain our privacy? What is the extent of our claim to neural privacy, and what exactly is its importance?