TEDxUniversityofStAndrews

Feasting at Food for Thought

Ethics Forum and debates

Ethics Forum with Morven Shearer

In addition to engaging with members of the public, we were keen to discuss Synthetic Biology and its implications for the modern world with our colleagues at University. We hosted an "Ethics Forum" with Dr Morven Shearer from the School of Medicine and we advertised the event in the science departments beforehand. At 4pm on Wednesday 4th July, our chosen meeting room was filled and we discussed the difference between Synthetic Biology and Genetic Engineering; concerns that arise when the BBC broadcasts news of the first "spider-goat"; as well as what should be done to combat false and exaggerated claims about scientific research. Although many of the participants held contrasting views, even in response to the question of "What is Synthetic Biology?", some opinions were held by all. In particular we agreed, as scientists living in a world dominated by media headlines, the decisions we make when we share news of our work can be as influential as the decisions we make while carrying out our work.

Multimedia Debate and Poster Campaign

We facilitated two multimedia debates during our ten weeks of project work. Participants were invited to write their responses on one of the many posters displayed around campus and town; by tweeting us, or by writing a comment on our Facebook page. Our two debate topic were:

• "What is Life? Is there one truly fundamental and fully comprehensive definition? How does the advent of emerging Scientific Discipline Synthetic Biology affect our viewpoint?

  Recently, Synthetic Biology made possible the creation of the world's first artificial cell (www.bbc.co.uk/news/10132762). Dr Craig Venter of the J Craig Venter Institute led his team to design and produce an entire genome - all genetic information governing the function of a cell - in the Lab. The resulting micro-organism had no parents. With such "advances" in this Scientific Discipline, how is our understanding of the concept of "life" affected? If new organisms can be created so readily, does the value we associate with mortality change?"

• "Juan Enriquez says autism, synaesthesia, photographic memory, and extreme concentration ability are mutations that let their hosts deal with overwhelming amounts of information. In today's environment, that's what gives you a competitive edge. It's human evolution in action. Geeks are a new species. Geeks harbor some surprising powers. For the first time in the history of evolution, a species has flipped the tables. They routinely outdo the evolution that made them. They haven't killed it, but they could. There is no technical barrier for human genetic modification. They've levelled up.

  www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_will_our_kids_be_a_different_species.html

  Hold on to your evolutionary fitnesses, ladies and gentlemen: "Homo evolutis" is coming and it's coming to compete. What do you hope for, from technology of the future?"

First Conference of Slovenian Young Researchers

A member of our team, Veronica Rezelj, was invited to speak at the First Conference of Slovenian Young Researchers, Postgraduate and Undergraduate Students from Slovenia and Abroad. Her talk presented her experiences of studying in Scotland and taking part in iGEM to an audience of about 200 people. She was asked to give a radio interview for Radio Slovenija, and an interview for the Slovenian main newspaper Delo.

In the three years of her studies she was included in the University Dean’s list, and she is now involved in a undergraduate team taking part in the iGEM synthetic biology competition. Competitors construct and operate biological systems in living cells. This iGEM team seeks to use the combined dynamics of synthetic biology, computer science and engineering to create both a novel precious metal recycling scheme as well as a renewable source of essential fatty acids Omega-3. They are planning to recreate an Omega-3 fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in E. Coli, while also trying to produce a series of metal-binding proteins, through which they intend to create a new way of recycling them. By representing her Scottish university in this competition, she is not only gaining experience and knowledge in laboratory research, but she is also able to contact the global scientific community and with Slovenia, where she is planning to return after her studies. “

Participants were invited to visit the Honorary sponsor of the conference, President of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk, who emphasised international cooperation in science is crucial.

Before the conference started on the 19thof July, Veronica was able to visit the Slovenian iGEM team, who have been very successful in the past. This was an informal and friendly meeting, where they got to know each other and shared experiences in the progress of the projects.

Media presence

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