Synthetic Biology Scoping Meeting
Event: WorkshopDate: 03 Sep 2007 09:00
Organised by: Emma Frow
Venue: ESRC Genomics Forum
Together with Edinburgh University researchers Alistair Elfick (Engineering) and Chris French (Biology), the ESRC Genomics Forum hosted a scoping meeting on the topic of synthetic biology on Monday 3 September 2007. This meeting was intended to bring together key parties in Scotland interested in or actively pursuing research in synthetic biology, and to serve as a scoping and capacity-building event.
**NEW** PDF copies of the workshop presentations are available to download (see below). Audio files and written summaries will also be available soon.
For more information about synthetic biology, including key publications and a summary of recent developments, look at the synthetic biology page.
Further details:
Workshop Programme
10.00 – 10.30 Registration and coffee
10.30 – 12.30 Session 1: Setting the context for synthetic biology
Drew Endy, MIT - Synthetic biology developments and activities in the US (pdf)
Sven Panke, ETH Zurich - Perspectives in synthetic biology (pdf)
Katie Finch, EPSRC - Synthetic biology activities and funding in the UK (pdf)
12.30 – 13.15 Lunch
13.15 – 15.00 Session 2: Applications and themes for synthetic biology research
13.15 – 14.10 Talking points I
Enabling technologies - Mike Tyers, University of Edinburgh
Parts and systems - Alistair Elfick, University of Edinburgh
RNA and cellular engineering - Christina Smolke, CalTech
Philosophical dimensions (pdf) - Jonathan Davies, University of Exeter
14.10 – 15.00 Talking points II
Applications: Engineering microorganisms (pdf)— Chris French, University of Edinburgh
Applications: Human health & medicine (pdf) — Jamie Davies, University of Edinburgh
Patenting and IP (pdf) — Jane Calvert, University of Edinburgh
Regulation and governance — Joyce Tait, University of Edinburgh
15.00 – 15.20 Coffee break
15.20 – 16.10 Session 3: A holistic approach to synthetic biology in Scotland
Open discussion to address questions including the following:
- What are some of the different ways in which synthetic biology research efforts can be organised? What would a world-class effort in Scotland entail in terms of scale, resource, and public and policy engagement?
- What broader socioeconomic and regulatory issues should be investigated and incorporated into a holistic research agenda for synthetic biology?
- Should Scottish universities be looking to develop courses on synthetic biology? At the graduate or undergraduate level? Targeting students from which disciplines?
- Are there any coordination or networking activities that would help to foster a strong, interdisciplinary synthetic biology research community in Scotland?
16.10 – 16.30 Presentations from Edinburgh and Glasgow iGEM teams
Details of the Edinburgh and Glasgow iGEM projects can be found on their wikis.
16.30 Close
Many thanks to all those who contributed the workshop!
Please contact Emma Frow with any queries or requests for further information.
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