Synthetic Biology in Public Policy To kick-start the discussion on the government’s role in the advancement of synthetic biology, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee addressed SB 7.0 about the Singapore government’s contribution to research as well as synthetic biology on a whole.
Synthetic Biology as an Industry The discussion on industry’s relationship with synthetic biology was spearheaded by Dr Randal J. Kirk of Interexon.
There were also numerous synthetic Biology start-ups that gave their respective presentations.
A couple have been quoted saying: if you can’t create something then you don’t really understand it at all The GP Write project has massive challenges ahead of it ranging from technical and funding challenges to that of marking out different turfs (as researchers want the assurance that no one else would attempt to encroach upon their group’s work).
The Synthetic Yeast Genome Project (Sc2.0) also held their 6th Annual General Meeting on the Saturday of the conference week, and a number of those involved in the project gave presentations at SB 7.0.
Other speakers spoke of using competition as a method for collaboration.
@alexandradaisy #SB7conf pic.twitter.com/5yTIGNAmqG — karen ingram (@krening) June 13, 2017 #ilike, #iwish, #iwonder, #iwill: #synbioleap Over the course of the conference, there was an effort by the Synthetic Biology Leadership Excellence Accelerator Program (LEAP) to kick-start a conversation on how conference attendees felt about the state of synthetic biology now, as well as their hopes for the future.
Finally, #iwill is a statement of action that would hopefully get participants to step up and attempt to fill the gaps that they have identified.
However, if there is one thing to take away from the conclusion of SB 7.0, it is that there are not just scientific and industrial steps forward in the field.
Furthermore, those within the field, regardless of whether they represent the industry or academia seek public understanding as well as participation in order to dispel fears as well as to bring us into the discourse.