BioCoder #10

Chapter 7. Building with Biology

Public Engagement with Synthetic Biology

Megan Palmer, Natalie Kuldell, and David Sittenfeld

From CRISPR in the New York Times to George Church on The Late Show, it seems that synthetic biology is all over the headlines lately. But what does your family—or your neighbor—need to know about biological engineering to make wise decisions? How can and should their values and visions for the future shape what synthetic biology becomes?

Synthetic biology is evolving as a field and an industry. But its trajectory is already being shaped by drivers, decisions, and dreams of communities well beyond those that identify as synthetic biologists. And while there is a lot of talk about preparing the world for synthetic biology through better communication, too often our actions suggest the goal is to get other people to better understand the technology. That is, if they just understood its potential and practice, we’d all chill out and be on the same page. But we know this simply isn’t true.

Technology is part of the social world in which our values and preferences often conflict, and we need to contend with the inevitable choices involved. As with politics, trust in technologies and institutions is not engendered by belittling the public (often called the “deficit model”). Rather, it is facilitated by actively listening and reflecting—engaging—with hopes, fears, and values, including our own as members of the public.

So, that might sound right, but what do you ...