Kevin Esvelt (MIT Media Lab professor and head of the Sculpting Evolution research group) has become a familiar face at town meetings on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, where he’s traveled to talk about the possibility of releasing hordes of genetically engineered mice that might rid the islands of Lyme disease. His approach is unconventional, but he hopes it will become the new normal: Before developing a technology to help people, ask the people if they want it, and include them at all steps of the process.