{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T16:32:16Z","timestamp":1786120336069,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786060800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Genet."],"abstract":"<jats:p>While constructed treatment wetland systems (CTWS) and genomics have been identified as viable remediation options for oil sands processed-affected water, researchers have paid limited attention to the priorities of affected groups. To address this gap, we used focus groups to explore the perspectives on CTWS and genomics held by Indigenous Peoples, oil and gas industry employees, CTWS and genomics researchers, and government regulators and policymakers affected by oil sands remediation in northern Alberta. We identify six key concerns: confusion about the options themselves; challenges with communication about the options; differing perspectives on naturality; differing risk tolerances; questions about long term effects and who will maintain liability; and cultural impacts to Indigenous Peoples. Importantly, participants identified barriers related to ethical, legal, social, environmental, and governance implications, often referred to as ELSI, that affect their participation in decision-making about genomics-enhanced oil sands remediation. We recommend directions for improving meaningful engagement and participation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fgene.2026.1889489","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T22:10:11Z","timestamp":1786054211000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Confusion, communication, and consent: ELSI barriers to genomics-enhanced remediation in Alberta\u2019s oil sands"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Michelle","family":"Tilford-Shaw","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan","place":["Saskatoon, SK, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Max","family":"Pospisil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan","place":["Saskatoon, SK, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lori","family":"Bradford","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ron and Jane Graham School of Professional Development, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan","place":["Saskatoon, SK, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Graham","family":"Strickert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan","place":["Saskatoon, SK, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diane","family":"Dupont","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Brock University","place":["St. Catharine\u2019s, ON, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1080\/09640568.2019.1579973","article-title":"Sources of uncertainties in environmental assessment: lessons about uncertainty disclosure and communication from an oil sands extraction project in Northern Alberta","volume":"63","author":"Aksamit","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. 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