Video: Synthetic Biology webinar

The video recording of our Synthetic Biology webinar is now available.

Synthetic biology creates both significant risks and significant opportunities for nature conservation.

This webinar discussed the IUCN process for developing a policy on synthetic biology in relation to nature conservation. An interesting part of that work was the groundbreaking creation of a Citizens’ Assembly to ensure that the formal policy development process receives input from a genuinely representative cross-section of the IUCN Membership. IUCN members Parks Victoria and the University of Queensland were randomly selected from the membership base to contribute.

Panellists included:

• Jessica Reid – District Manager from Parks Victoria and Citizens Assembly participant.

• Dr Stuart Kininmonth - Heron Island Research Station Manager, University of Queensland and Citizens Assembly Participant

• Peter Cochrane - IUCN Vice President and part of the Council Programme and Policy Committee Resolution 123 Working Group

• Jo Hopkins - ACIUCN Commissions Liaison and Co-Chair IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Health and Wellbeing Specialist Group.

For further information on synthetic biology see:

• IUCN issues brief: Synthetic biology and its implications for biodiversity conservation

• IUCN Resolution: Towards the development of a policy on Synthetic Biology in relation to Nature Conservation