Making Life

Synthetic biology is heralded as the next technological revolution. By drawing from biology, engineering and computing, synthetic biology allows biological systems to be redesigned and new ‘life’ to be designed and constructed.

The technology promises environmental and medical benefits – but how far should we alter life to reap these benefits? How will these developments challenge our definition of ‘life’?

Join us as we explore where this technology could take us in the future. Share your thoughts in our group discussions and quiz experts on the issues synthetic biology raises.

George Attard, a synthetic biologist, will be talking about what is going on in synthetic-biology research in the UK.

Talk to science writer Philip Ball about recent developments in this field and where we might find synthetic biology in the future.

Chris Langley will raise some of the social issues posed by synthetic biology. Should we be concerned? Should we be able to have our say on future developments?

And quiz Christina Smolke about how the US is approaching research into synthetic biology. There are potentially large economic gains associated with the technology – is Britain keeping up in the race?

Event organised by:
The Science Museum

Speakers

George Attard, University of Southampton
Philip Ball, freelance science writer and consultant editor at Nature
Chris Langley, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Christina Smolke, California Institute of Technology
Facilitator: Natalie Day, Demos

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