Education Federal Activity

Public Education

Identify and widely disseminate strategies to promote overall scientific and ethical literacy, particularly as related to synthetic biology, among all age groups. 

Recommendation

Educational activities related to synthetic biology should be expanded and directed to diverse populations of students at all levels, civil society organizations, communities, and other groups. These activities are most effective when encouraged and supported by various sources, not only government, but also private foundations and grassroots scientific and civic organizations. As part of the coordinated approach urged in Recommendation 4, the Executive Office of the President, with input from the scientific community, the public, and relevant private organizations, should identify and widely disseminate strategies to promote overall scientific and ethical literacy, particularly as related to synthetic biology, among all age groups.

Activities

Federal

• Executive Office of the President – No activities identified.
• Department of Education – No activities identified.
• National Institutes of Health
  • The June 2011 National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity report, Strategies to Educate Amateur Biologists and Scientists in Non-life Science Disciplines About Dual Use Research in the Life Sciences, sought to educate scientists trained in non-science fields and amateur – yet sophisticated – biologists by providing recommendations for dealing with potential dual-use biotechnology.

Non-Federal

• In September 2010, the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center published the results of a nationwide survey among 1,000 adults about attitudes toward the entities involved in the oversight of new scientific and technological advances, awareness of nanotechnology and synthetic biology, and feelings about two potential applications of the science. The project conducted similar opinion research in September 2009 and September 2008 focused on the public’s attitudes towards synthetic biology and other emerging technologies.

• On March 7, 2011, a mock hearing was held at Arizona State University DC Center to explore citizens’ views about research and development of synthetic biology, and how it should be regulated using the Interagency Committee on Synthetic Biology for the Executive Office of the President as a model.

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