Synthesis — Interdisciplinary Interconnections in Synthetic Biology

Date: 09/30/2011, 09:00h to 10/01/2011, 16:30h

Location:
Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung
der Universität Bielefeld
Wellenberg 1
33615 Bielefeld

Further information: http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/ZIF/AG/2011/09-30-Krohs.html

Description: The field of synthetic biology forms a new discipline within basic biological research and at the same time, a new branch of biotechnology. Synthetic biology is a highly interdisciplinary endeavor, involving experimental and computational biologists working in concert with engineers and mathematicians. Traditional epistemic goals are linked, and often subordinated, to more engineering-oriented goals. Consequently, ethical and risk issues are often at the core of philosophical reflection of synthetic biology. This workshop will extend the focus of reflection considerably. Biologists, philosophers of science, and political scientists will first explore the philosophical and theoretical foundations and underpinnings of this field of research and inquire possible consequences for the concept of life. On this basis, they will re-address ethical and societal issues.

Contact:
Marina Hoffmann
Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung der Universität Bielefeld
Wellenberg 1
33615 Bielefeld
Phone: 0521-106-2768
Fax: 521-106-6024
marina.hoffmann@uni-bielefeld.de
http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/(de)/ZIF/

Organizer: Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung der Universität Bielefeld

Program coordination: Ulrich Krohs (Bielefeld); Maureen O'Malley (Exeter); Mark Bedau (Portland, OR)

Keywords: biotechnology; research ethics; technology assessment; ethics and science