foresight action network - parliament · 4/30/2013 · 2.00 p.m. issues identified through the...
TRANSCRIPT
Foresight Action Network
Future Environmental Applications and Implications of Synthetic Biology
30th April 2013 in the Attlee suite, Portcullis House, London, SW1A 2LW.
FAN Club 2.0 aims
“To provide a forum for networking and the exchange of information between public, private academic and voluntary sectors about making effective use of strategic futures thinking.”
http://shapingtomorrowmain.ning.com/group/fanclub2
What is Foresight?The EU definition regards Foresight as a framework for a group of people concerned with common issues at stake (e.g. future of EU manufacturing, R&D and innovation priorities, transport and mobility, etc.) to jointly think about the future in a structured and constructive way. Foresight provides a number of tools to support participants (i.e. policy makers, experts and other stakeholders) to develop visions of the future and pathways towards these visions. Foresight is more and more perceived as a valuable policy instrument which can support the development of a vision and its translation into a Strategic Research Agenda
Foresight in UK Government – way aheadProposed definition of horizon scanning :A systematic examination of information to identify potential threats, risks, emerging issues and opportunities, beyond the Parliamentary term, allowing for better preparedness and the incorporation of mitigation and exploitation into the policy making process. (Jon Day’s Review of cross‐Government horizon scanning Jan 2013)
…the post of Cabinet Secretary should formally own horizon scanning and act as a champion for it.
Sir Jeremy Haywood, Cabinet Secretary
Jon Day, Joint Intelligence Committee Chairman
What is Synthetic Biology?
Source: Government Office for Science ‐ Technology and Innovation Futures 2012 refresh
Synthetic biology is destined to become of critical importance to building the nation’s wealth. (Royal Academy of Engineering report on Synthetic Biology May 2009)
POST comments in 2008Prospects include new therapeutics, environmental biosensors and novel methods to produce food, drugs, chemicals or energy.Although it is considered unlikely that synthetic organisms could survive outside a laboratory environment and would pose lower risks than naturally occurring micro‐organisms, it is unclear whether they could become self‐sustaining and able to evolve. Research is subject to existing regulation for genetically modified organisms but this will be kept under review.The main concerns include:• unknown risks to the environment and public health;• whether existing risk management policies are adequate for the products of synthetic biology;• accidental release or intentional malicious use.
Source:postnote 298Jan2008
Source: UK Synthetic Biology Roadmap Coordination Group July 2012
From research to application
Source: UK Synthetic Biology Roadmap Coordination Group July 2012
Synthetic Biology Road Map to 2030
Risks:Even if synthetic organisms are not purposely released into the environment, there is the risk of accidental release of such organisms which could have unintended detrimental effects on the environment or on human health. The flexibility of synthetic biology means that micro‐organisms could be created which are radically different from those that we know today. Such microorganisms might have unpredictable and emergent properties ….. at present the official view in the UK is that the majority of synthetic biology research will be covered by current … regulations and that there is no need for any new regulations relating specifically to synthetic biology at present.
(Royal Academy of Engineering report May 2009)
Environmental applications and implications
Benefits:Synthetic biology technologies could be useful in bioremediation, for the digestion of otherwise difficult to dispose of materials, or for the absorption and retention of impurities, such as arsenic or radioactive elements, in water. It could become possible to mine waste streams using novel organisms to seek out, and concentrate up, rare elements from distributed sources such as waste effluent streams or landfill. The technology could also find application in CO2 capture.(Source: UK Synthetic Biology Roadmap Coordination Group July 2012)
Telephones
Facilities
Emergencies
Feedback
Admin issues:
30 April 2013 Programme12.40 p.m. Welcome (Brian Brader)12.50 p.m. Future Environmental Applications and I
implications of Synthetic Biology‐ overview(Prof Richard Owen, University of Exeter)
1.00 p.m. Group discussions2.00 p.m. Issues identified through the horizon scanning
process(Dr Marco Palomino, University of Exeter)
2.10 p.m. Feedback/plenary discussion 2.40 p.m. Closing remarks
(Dr Chris Tyler, Director, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)
Thousands of people breed plants or animals at the moment – what might happen when they gain the ability to
….make their own bespoke organisms? How could these new
creatures affect natural ecosystems? And how can we stop this miraculous technology being put to malicious
uses?Prof Bill Sutherland, University of Cambridge, 2010