Let’s Talk About… Synthetic Biology—Emerging Technologies and the Public

Abstract

Synthetic biology has emerged in the past decade when advanced biotechnological methods have increased the ability to design and build robust and predictable biological systems using engineering design principles. Synthetic biology is expected to contribute to solving the world’s most significant challenges including energy supply, disease control, or even the remediation of polluted sites. Nevertheless, possible societal implications and risk analyses have been topics of scientific debate since its very beginning and synthetic biology has become a subject for Technology Assessment. Following the tradition of social constructivist studies of science and technology, the notions of public participation and engagement become prominent in order to answer the question of how to govern emerging technologies like synthetic biology. This is reinforced in the context of the concept of responsible research and innovation, which explicitly asks for more public participation aiming on avoidance of conflicts and enabling successful innovations that are adapted to societal values and needs. However, still little is known about synthetic biology in the public which is demonstrated for the chase of Germany. Moreover, this chapter considers why and how public engagement can contribute to the assessment and governance of synthetic biology and what should be considered when using the according methods.