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The economic and social life of synthetic biology
On 13 and 14 April 2011, the
Royal Society and The Royal Academy of Engineering
are jointly hosted a two day symposium to discuss
the economic and social impact of synthetic biology.
For the first time, the expertise and networks of
the six science and engineering academies from the
UK, China and US have been brought together,
producing a unique opportunity for researchers,
policy makers and firms interested in this emerging
field.
The first in a series of three
symposia explored the potential for synthetic
biology research to lead to novel tools and
technology, as well as the challenges provoked by
these innovations.
The keynote speaker Dr George
Poste FRS CBE, Chief Scientist at Arizona State
University, provided an overview of the field and
how it builds on the intellectual and technical
foundations of four decades of progress in molecular
and systems biology, genetic engineering and
industrial biotechnology. He also emphasised that
the new technology poses important public policy
questions regarding industrial competitiveness,
safety, ethics and oversight.
The UK Science Minister, Rt
Hon David Willetts, also spoke of the UK
government’s support for synthetic biology and the
importance of international collaboration.
View photos from this event
View
programme of event (261KB)
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