I just received an email from Kate O’Shea of The Royal Society announcing their "Call for views" on Synthetic Biology. From their website (http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/syntheticbiology):
The Royal Society seeks your views on the emerging area of synthetic biology. This is your opportunity to shape the focus of the Royal Society's policy future work in this important area. We welcome views from individuals or organisations by 27 August 2007.Here is a list of topics listed by the Royal Society to be commented on:
- Potential developments and applications
- Current research capacity and geographical distribution
- Societal implications
- Ethical concerns
- Biosecurity risks
- Implications for the environment
- Research support and funding
- Implications for human health
- Legal issues and implications for regulation (national and international)
- Ownership, sharing and innovation frameworks (including intellectual property)
- Biosafety concerns
- Education and training
- Governance and oversight of research
- Economic considerations for developed and developing countries