Explore every episode of the podcast GES Center Lectures, NC State University

NSCEB Report: Charting the Future of Biotechnology

Zoom Only | Final Colloquium of the semester! Dr. Anastasia Bodnar will present an overview of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s recently published report, outlining key recommendations to accelerate biotechnology in the United States.

• Download seminar flyer
• Charting the Future of Biotechnology, NSCEB Final Report, 2025.

Anastasia Bodnar, PhD

Senior Policy Advisor for the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) | LinkedIn Dr. Anastasia Bodnar has over 20 years of U.S. military and federal government experience in science policy and science communication, including in regulatory policy, risk management, and public health. She currently leads policy development on agriculture and biotechnology product regulation as a Senior Policy Advisor for the NSCEB. Previously, she held several roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including as the Biotechnology and Bioeconomy Coordinator for the Department. Anastasia began her career in the U.S. Army, focusing on public health and integrated pest management, and entered civilian service as a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health. She has a PhD in plant genetics with a minor in sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University and a BS in biology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Abstract

While the United States is the home of modern biotechnology, our lead in research and development, innovation, and production of the most cutting-edge biotechnology breakthroughs is slipping. China is pulling ahead, and falling behind in this critical sector puts our economic, food, energy, infrastructure, and national security at risk. In its comprehensive report to Congress, the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology assesses that time is running out to retain and cement our global leadership in biotechnology. We are falling behind fast, and catching back up won’t be an option. This report outlines an action plan to maintain our advantage in this critical domain, but only if we act now. The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, and we’re featuring a mostly student-led seminar series. Students will be taking the lead in identifying, inviting, and hosting most of the speakers, providing a great opportunity for them to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars, which will now take place in Withers 331. Your presence makes a big difference in creating a supportive environment for our students. Remember, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Artificial Intelligence in the Biological Sciences: Uses, Safety, Security, and Oversight

Withers 331 + Zoom | Former GES Sr. Research Scholar Todd Kuiken returns from Washington, DC to explore the convergence of artificial intelligence with the biological sciences and the public policy issues addressing potential benefits and associated biosafety and biosecurity concerns.

• Download seminar flyer
• Recommended reading: Biosecurity in the Age of AI, NASEM

Todd Kuiken, PhD

Science & Technology Policy Analyst in the U.S. Congressional Research Service | Profile | LinkedIn Dr. Todd Kuiken has spent more than a decade analyzing and designing new research and governance strategies to proactively address the opportunities, risks and policy options associated with emerging science and disruptive technologies. He has advised, negotiated, and communicated with key federal, state, industry, academic, and nongovernmental stakeholders to help identify disruption points and policy gaps across a variety of emerging technologies enabling decision makers and broader publics to anticipate and govern emerging technologies. His current role as an analyst with the U.S. Congressional Research Service is to provide independent, non-partisan, comprehensive research and analysis for Congress on all legislative and oversight issues related to biotechnologies, artificial intelligence, fusion, biosafety, biosecurity, and the broader debates around public policy as it relates to science and technology. Prior to joining CRS, he spent five years as a senior research scholar at North Carolina State University’s Genetic Engineering & Society Center and eight years prior to that working as a senior research associate with the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Science and Technology Innovation Program.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence technologies, methodologies, and applications can, and have been, used throughout the biological sciences, including in engineering biology. This has enabled research and development (R&D) advances across multiple application areas and industries. For example, AI can be used to analyze genomic data (e.g., DNA sequences) to determine the genetic basis of a particular trait and potentially uncover genetic markers linked with those traits. It has also been used in combination with biological design tools to aid in characterizing proteins and for designing new chemical structures, including for drug discovery. AI can also be used across the scientific R&D process, including the design of laboratory experiments, protocols to run certain laboratory equipment, and other “de-skilling” aspects of scientific research. The convergence of AI and other technologies associated with biology can lower technical and knowledge barriers and increase the number of actors with certain capabilities. These capabilities have potential for beneficial uses while at the same time raising certain biosafety and biosecurity concerns. This talk will explore these capabilities and governance options to address both the potential benefits and risks; including recent U.S. Congressional and Executive Branch activities. The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, and we’re featuring a mostly student-led seminar series. Students will be taking the lead in identifying, inviting, and hosting most of the speakers, providing a great opportunity for them to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars, which will now take place in Withers 331. Your presence makes a big difference in creating a supportive environment for our students. Remember, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Altering Traits and Fates of Wild Populations with Mendelian DNA Modifying Allele Sails: Possible Contexts and Modeling Considerations

Zoom Only | How can we use genetics to manage wild populations, and how do the bioengineers working on these projects predict their impact?

• Download seminar flyer
• Johnson, M.L., Hay, B.A. & Maselko, M. Altering traits and fates of wild populations with Mendelian DNA sequence modifying Allele Sails. Nat Commun 15, 6665 (2024).

Michelle Johnson

Research Technician at Caltech | LinkedIn Michelle Johnson (he/him) is a research technician working with Dr. Bruce Hay at Caltech. The lab is interested in using genetic technologies to control the composition and fate of wild populations. Specifically, they work on designing and characterizing novel gene drive systems in different species. Michelle is a computational biologist and spends most of his time designing models, writing software, and describing the effect of novel gene drive systems on various populations. He is especially interested in how the inclusion and exclusion of certain model features can impact results. Michelle graduated from Harvey Mudd College with a BS in Mathematical & Computational Biology in 2023 and has worked with Bruce Hay since then.

Abstract

Population-scale genome modification can alter the composition or fate of wild populations. Synthetic gene drives provide one set of tools, but their use is complicated by scientific, regulatory, and social issues associated with transgene persistence and flow. We have proposed an alternative approach, called an Allele Sail. It consists of a genome editor (the Wind), which is inherited in a Mendelian fashion. This editor introduces DNA sequence edits (the Sail), which experiences an arithmetic, Super-Mendelian increase in frequency. Through modeling, we demonstrate this system’s ability to bring about both population modification and suppression. A relatively simple system, Allele Sails may prove useful since the spread and persistence of the transgenic component can be limited. We outline contexts where Allele Sails could be useful and briefly discuss the modeling field and perspectives on modeling for risk assessment.

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, and we’re featuring a mostly student-led seminar series. Students will be taking the lead in identifying, inviting, and hosting most of the speakers, providing a great opportunity for them to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars, which will now take place in Withers 331. Your presence makes a big difference in creating a supportive environment for our students. Remember, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Questioning the Accounting Impulse in Environmental Policy

Withers 331 + Zoom | Using a practice-centered approach to analyze the rise and implications of environmental accounting.

• Download seminar flyer

Ritwick Ghosh, PhD

Assistant Professor of Environmental Governance at NC State University | Profile | LinkedIn Dr. Ritwick Ghosh is an Assistant Professor in Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. Ritwick studies and teaches environmental governance, with expertise in the role of markets in advancing sustainable land practices. Ritwick is a deeply interdisciplinary scholar and contributes to the fields of political ecology and science and technology studies. Before joining NCSU, Ritwick held positions at the University of Denver, New York University, and Arizona State University. Ritwick received his Masters and PhD from Cornell University.

Abstract

Environmental accounting is increasingly a central theme in the sustainability discourse. Whether in the form of cost-benefit analysis, carbon disclosures, or economic valuation of nature, accounting is presented as a critical step toward improving policy processes and public accountability. Yet, this rise in environmental accounting has also sparked a critical debate within political ecology and science and technology studies (STS) on what is being counted and how accounting tools are reshaping environmental institutions. In this presentation, I draw on my past work on environmental market policies in the US and India to outline a practice-based approach to the study of environmental accounting. I hope to show that there is an important performative dimension to the accounting impulse. Measurement and quantification may enhance transparency, but at the same time, ever more elaborate forms of quantification also serve to delay, distract, and limit progressive environmental actions.

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, and we’re featuring a mostly student-led seminar series. Students will be taking the lead in identifying, inviting, and hosting most of the speakers, providing a great opportunity for them to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars, which will now take place in Withers 331. Your presence makes a big difference in creating a supportive environment for our students. Remember, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Is the Spirit of Asilomar Still Haunting Biotechnology?

Withers 331 + Zoom | An overview and analysis of my experience at the 2025 The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology Summit

• Download seminar flyer

Katie Barnhill, PhD

Associate Director of Programs and Engagement, GES Center, NC State University | Profile | LinkedIn Dr. Katie Barnhill is the Associate Director of Programs and Engagement for the Genetic Engineering and Society Center. As an interdisciplinary social scientist, Katie integrates experience and training in environmental science, policy, and governance with the critical tools of science, technology, and society studies. She uses these tools to organize, facilitate, and empirically study stakeholder engagement activities such as workshops to create justice-oriented and inclusive decision-making spaces about the potential use of biotechnology tools that may be released into shared environments.

Abstract

Since the 1975 Asilomar Conference, where experts gathered to discuss what to do about then-new production of recombinant DNA molecules, much ink has been spilled about the successes, failures, and disruptions (or not) of the summit itself. 50 years after the now-famous Asilomar Conference, science historians organized a follow up summit, providing “an opportunity to reconvene and look towards the future, [but] the summit’s aim [was] to grapple with the past — aware of its accomplishments, limitations, and failures — so as to better engage with the issues of the present.” So, how did it go? For this presentation, I will reflect on my experience at the summit as a participant and fundamentally pose the question, is the Spirit of Asilomar still haunting biotechnology? Related links:

• The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology Summit

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12-1 pm via Zoom, with national/international guests joining us remotely, and local in-person guests every other week in Withers 331.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Telling Your Science Story: The Power of Narrative in Research Communication

This short, interactive workshop will explore why and how to use storytelling to communicate your research and give you a chance to practice and receive feedback.

• Download seminar flyer
• Download presentation slides

Jory Weintraub, PhD

Director of Science Engagement in the Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs at NC State University | Profile Jory Weintraub is the Director of Science Engagement in the Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs (OUIP) and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Communication. Previous positions have included co-PI and Director of Professional Development and Training for the NSF-funded Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society, Science Communication Director and Senior Lecturing Fellow with Duke University’s Initiative for Science and Society, and Director of Education and Outreach at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center. He serves on the advisory board of the Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine and previously served on the board of directors of Science Communicators of North Carolina. He has a BS in biochemistry/cell biology from the University of California, San Diego, and a Ph.D. in immunology from UNC Chapel Hill, and received an NSF postdoctoral fellowship in STEM education/outreach. His professional interests include STEM outreach, science communication, societal impacts of research and diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM.

Abstract

Once upon a time, in labs and lecture halls far, far away, scientists were trained to avoid stories, anecdotes, and “making it personal” when talking about their work. However empirical evidence demonstrates that these approaches can be the most effective ways to communicate research to non-experts. This short, interactive workshop will examine the elements of a compelling story, explore how our brains respond to storytelling, and introduce a simple, fun template for telling the story of your science in just three sentences. Participants will have the opportunity to practice science storytelling and give/receive feedback, and as a result they will improve their science communication skills and live happily ever after—the end.

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12-1 pm via Zoom, with national/international guests joining us remotely, and local in-person guests every other week in Withers 331.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Precision Agriculture

Withers 331 + Zoom | Download seminar flyer

Lirong Xiang, PhD

Assistant Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NC State University | Profile | XR Lab Dr. Xiang is the Principal Investigator of the Automation and Robotics Lab in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University and affiliated with N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She received her Ph.D. degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from Iowa State University and her B.S. degree in Biosystems Engineering from Zhejiang University. Dr. Xiang works on agricultural robotics, 2D & 3D computer vision, and machine learning. During her Ph.D. program, she has developed robotic and automated systems for both indoor and in-field plant phenotyping applications.

Abstract

This presentation highlights the use of AI and robotics in precision agriculture, focusing on automated tomato disease phenotyping and downy mildew detection in cucurbits. By leveraging AI-driven image analysis and robotic systems, the approach enables early, accurate disease detection and targeted interventions, improving crop yield and sustainability. Related links:

• Zhang, Z., He, W., Wu, F., Quesada, L., & Xiang, L. (2024). Development of a bionic hexapod robot with adaptive gait and clearance for enhanced agricultural field scouting. Frontiers in Robotics and AI (2024)

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12-1 pm via Zoom, with national/international guests joining us remotely, and local in-person guests every other week in Withers 331.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Microbiomes at the Roots of Environmental and Social Justice

Withers 331 + Zoom | Dr. Choudoir explores the role of soil microbiomes in sustainable agriculture and why their conservation is essential for environmental and social justice.

• Download seminar flyer

Mallory Choudoir, PhD

Assistant Professor & Soil Microbiome Extension Specialist at NC State University | Profile | Lab Dr. Mallory Choudoir is an Assistant Professor & Soil Microbiome Extension Specialist in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology. She is a soil microbial ecologist and evolutionary biologist who explores the interaction between plants, microbes, and soil in agroecosystems. She completed her PhD work at Cornell University as well as postdoctoral positions at the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also worked as an industry research scientist at a Boston-based biotech company. Her applied research program at NC State aims to evaluate, innovate, and expand microbial solutions for sustainable agriculture. She is an active member of the Microbes and Social Equity Working Group (MSE), and her research values align with social, environmental, and climate justice.

Abstract

Environmental microbial communities carry out ecosystem functions critical for maintaining and enhancing plant, animal, human, and planetary health. For example, vibrant and productive food systems are fundamentally rooted in soils and soil microbiomes. Climate change, intensive agriculture practices, and the increasing demands of food systems threaten soil microbiome biodiversity and their important ecosystem functions. We are increasingly aware that disruption and degradation of microbiomes amplifies social inequity. Therefore, social and environmental justice must be prioritized while innovating microbial solutions to support sustainability goals. The concept of microbiome stewardship recognizes the importance of microbes in sustaining human and ecosystem health and emphasizes the need to conserve and protect them collectively at the societal level. Dr. Choudoir will discuss their vision for centering soil microbes in sustainable agriculture and building a research and engagement program that aligns with environmental and climate justice. Related links:

• Choudoir MJ, Eggleston EM. 2022. Reciprocal Inclusion of Microbiomes and Environmental Justice Contributes Solutions to Global Environmental Health Challenges. mSystems 7:e01462-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.01462-21.

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, and we’re featuring a mostly student-led seminar series. Students will be taking the lead in identifying, inviting, and hosting most of the speakers, providing a great opportunity for them to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars, which will now take place in Withers 331. Your presence makes a big difference in creating a supportive environment for our students. Remember, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Eugenics before Genetics

Withers 331 + Zoom | Historical examination of the societal concerns, current ideas and practices, and disciplines that created the context in the early 20th century for the enthusiastic engagement of geneticists in the eugenics movement.

• Download seminar flyer

William Kimler, PhD

Associate Professor of History at NC State University | Profile William (Will) Kimler is an Associate Professor of History at NC State University. His research investigates the history of evolutionary theories and arguments, with an emphasis on the interactions among evolutionists, ecologists, geneticists, and animal behaviorists. Dr. Kimler holds a Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University, with an interdisciplinary focus on the role of ecology and genetics in evolutionary theory from Darwin to the Evolutionary Synthesis of the 1940s. That period encompasses the origins of modern genetics, the rapid development of new disciplines within biology, and the incorporation of biological expertise and technologies into social concerns and practices, including eugenics. As a long-time director and mentor of the undergraduate interdisciplinary Thomas Jefferson Scholars program, bridging agricultural sciences and the humanities, that experience has drawn his work more toward the cultural applications of biological concepts.

Abstract

The enthusiasm and participation of early 20th-century geneticists in the eugenics movement is well known, but the narrative is often presented as if the science itself created eugenics. While not downplaying the influential role of many leading geneticists in promoting interest in and applications of eugenic practices, this talk reframes the origins of eugenics, prior to Mendelian genetics. This reframing provides a model for understanding how a volatile combination of societal concerns, prevailing ideas and practices, and multiple disciplines can emerge. Recognizing this broader, interactive context clarifies that “science” and “public” are not truly separate and, together, can become a pre-adapted condition in which a new science can find acceptance for its sweeping, optimistic claims of technological solutions.

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12-1 pm in Withers 331 and via Zoom.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

<h5>SPRING SEMINAR SERIES</h5> Navigating Consumer Perceptions for Emerging Ag Tech: Considerations for Outreach, Engagement, and Communication

How agricultural science communication can move beyond traditional, deficit models to engage diverse audiences through dialogue-based strategies aligned with Cooperative Extension’s founding mission.

• Download seminar flyer

Katie Sanders, PhD

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at NC State University | Profile Catherine (Katie) Sanders, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at NC State University. Her research bridges science communication and identity-based frameworks to enhance culturally responsive engagement with stakeholders across the food system. Dr. Sanders holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication from the University of Georgia, with a focus on science communication and program evaluation. She has earned recognition for her innovative contributions to food systems communication and rural health initiatives, receiving two consecutive awards for Article of the Year from the Journal of Applied Communications. Her emerging research inquiry investigates consumer perceptions of gene-editing technologies in plants and livestock and aims to enhance Cooperative Extension’s capacity for effective, diverse, and equitable engagement around agricultural innovations.

Abstract

The discipline of agricultural science communication has long relied on linear and deficit models of communication when marketing new innovations. However, these models are limited in their efficacy for reaching diverse audiences and run contrary to the original mission of Cooperative Extension, one of the first agricultural science communication institutions. During this talk, Sanders will provide an overview of the tradition of agricultural science communication and describe the inflection point the discipline faces today to reach diverse audiences in an information-dense environment. Sanders will also outline her approach to implementing agricultural science communication research strategies for emerging agricultural technologies with specific reference to her work as an Extension Specialist at NC State. Additionally, she will detail her recent research and programmatic efforts to incorporate dialogue-based engagement strategies into agricultural communication, moving away from the traditional deficit approaches. By combining epistemological, historical, and methodological perspectives, Sanders develops new methods of agricultural science communication and hopes to foster dialogue about future directions from this interdisciplinary gathering. Related links:

• Sanders, C. E., Lamm, K. W., & Ramsey, E. (2024). Identifying key competencies for extension communication: A Delphi analysis to guide program development. Journal of Applied Communications, 108(3). https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2537
• Sanders, C. E., Gibson, K. E., & Lamm, A. J. (2022). Perceived government control and its influence on climate change knowledge perceptions: Applications for effective communication. Journal of Applied Communications, 106(3). https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.2441
• Sanders, C. E., Gibson, K. E., & Lamm, A. J. (2022). Rural broadband and precision agriculture: A frame analysis of United States federal policy outreach under the Biden administration. Sustainability, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010460
• Gibson, K. E., Sanders, C. E., & Lamm, A. J. (2021). News source use and social media engagement: Examining their effects on origin of COVID-19 beliefs when mediated by critical thinking style. SAGE Open, 11(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211061324
• Sanders, C. E., Mayfield-Smith, K. A., & Lamm, A. J. (2021). Exploring Twitter discourse around the use of artificial intelligence to advance agricultural sustainability. Sustainability, 13, 12033. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112033

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12-1 pm via Zoom, with national/international guests joining us remotely, and local in-person guests every other week in Withers 331.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Regulating genetic-based vector control towards malaria elimination in Africa: Key considerations, challenges and opportunities

Zoom | Genetic-based approaches offer promising solutions for malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Clear regulations and public acceptance are essential for their success.

• Download seminar flyer

Moussa Savadogo, PhD

Senior Research Fellow at the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) | Profile Dr. Moussa Savadogo is an environmental biosafety expert from Burkina Faso with extensive experience in regulatory capacity building and stakeholder engagement. He served for 15 years as a Principal Programme Officer at the African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), where he led the environmental component of regulatory capacity building in Agricultural Biotechnology (ABNE) and Integrated Vector Management (IVM). After retiring from AUDA-NEPAD, Dr. Savadogo continued to support the organization as a Technical Consultant with WITS Health Consortium (Pty) Ltd in Johannesburg. In this role, he contributed to building regulatory capacity and engaging high-level stakeholders on genetically based vector control strategies aimed at eliminating malaria and other vector-borne diseases. Dr. Savadogo recently joined the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) as a Senior Research Fellow. In this capacity, he provides policy advisory services to African Union Member States on innovative vector control strategies, including gene drives for malaria elimination and Wolbachia endosymbiont mosquitoes for dengue control. Earlier in his career, Dr. Savadogo worked as a scientist at Burkina Faso’s National Centre of Research and Technology (CNRST) and as a regulator at the National Biosafety Agency (ANB). His career reflects a commitment to advancing biosafety and sustainable solutions for pressing public health challenges in Africa.

Abstract

Malaria continues to be the most devastating disease in sub-Saharan Africa, where a child dies from the infection every one to two minutes. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Malaria Report, progress has alarmingly stalled in the WHO African Region, which accounts for approximately 95% of global malaria morbidity and mortality. It is increasingly evident that no single strategy will suffice to eliminate malaria by 2030, as outlined in the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 (GTS). Contributing factors—such as mosquito resistance to insecticides, parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs, shifting mosquito behaviors, global warming, armed conflicts, and inadequate funding—compound the challenge. Additionally, dengue cases continue to rise. In response, there is an urgent need to explore innovative tools, including genetically modified mosquitoes equipped with engineered gene drives, as recommended by the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET). Though progress is underway in several African countries, significant ethical and environmental concerns persist. A favorable regulatory environment is therefore critical to enable responsible research and development of these tools. Key enabling factors include (i) strong political commitment at national and regional levels, (ii) functional regulatory systems, (iii) strengthened health research capacities, (iv) public acceptance of genetic-based technologies, and (v) enhanced regional and multilateral collaboration.

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium meets weekly on Tuesdays from 12-1 pm via Zoom, with national/international guests joining us remotely, and local in-person guests every other week in Withers 331.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Herding Cats: Responsible Innovation for Sterilizing Cats in New Zealand

Hybrid | GES 508 students apply the Responsible Research and Innovation framework to a hypothetical gene therapy project for cat sterilization supporting New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 goal. Final GES Colloquium of the semester!

Abstract

Join us for a student-led presentation exploring the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework developed by Stilgoe et al. in a hypothetical scenario. New Zealand has been working towards becoming predator-free to protect its native ecosystem, establishing the ambitious Predator Free 2050 project. At the same time, a team of biologists has been developing a shot that can sterilize cats without the need for costly and time-consuming surgeries, through the usage of a gene therapy that increases Anti-Müllerian hormone levels. Students will explore a hypothetical scenario where this shot is used to help New Zealand work towards its goal of eliminating predators by controlling cat populations. They will frame this scenario through the lens of Responsible Research and Innovation and discuss how this project could be carried out with Anticipation, Reflexivity, Inclusion, and Responsiveness in mind. Using this lens, they will look at the science behind the project, the potential of a sterilization mandate, unexpected ecological side effects, and the logistics needed for such a project. They will conclude on both how this theoretical project should proceed and if the Responsible Research and Innovation framework was a good guiding principle for this project.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Genetic Engineering and the Politics of Development in Ghana Joeva Sean Rock, PhD

Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University | Profile Dr. Joeva Sean Rock is an assistant professor of anthropology at Stony Brook University. Her research utilizes ethnographic methods and interdisciplinary collaborations to examine agricultural biotechnologies, the politics of development, and food sovereignty on the African continent. Dr. Rock’s research has been supported by Fulbright, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the British Academy. She is the author of We Are Not Starving: The Struggle for Food Sovereignty in Ghana (Michigan State University Press, 2022), and was the recipient of the 2019 Boahen-Wilks Outstanding Scholarly Article in Ghana Studies Prize.

Abstract

In this talk, I will present findings from my book, We Are Not Starving: The Struggle for Food Sovereignty in Ghana (Michigan State Press 2022). In the early 2000s, Ghana was one of the first countries targeted by a group of US donors and agribusiness corporations with an ambitious plan to develop genetically engineered (GE) crops for African farmers. The collective believed that GE crops would serve to sustainably increase yields and spark a “new” Green Revolution on the continent. Soon after the project began in Ghana, a nationwide food sovereignty movement emerged in opposition. Today, despite impressive efforts and investments by proponents, the domestic development of GE crops has mostly stalled, with one exception. Why, after years of preparation, millions of dollars of funding, and multiple policy reforms, did these megaprojects effectively come to a halt? One of the first ethnographies to take on the question of GE crops in the African context, We Are Not Starving, blends archival analysis, interviews, and participant observation with Ghanaian scientists, farmers, activists, and officials. The book argues that at its core, disagreement over GE crops in Ghana has little to do with agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability, and much more to do with debates over political and food sovereignty. By approaching food as a (contested) cultural object rather than a simple item for production and consumption, the book provides broad insight into the social realities of development and climate change, genetic engineering, and US foreign aid. Related links:

• We Are Not Starving: The Struggle for Food Sovereignty in Ghana
• Bridging the gap? Public-private partnerships and genetically modified crop development for smallholder farmers in Africa
• Beyond the Genome: Genetically modified crops in Africa and the implications for Genome Editing
• The Complex Choreography of Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa
• The scientific narrative around new food technologies needs to change
• Download seminar poster

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

AI for crisis communication: Challenges and opportunities

An exploration of AI’s role in managing organization-public relationships during crises, highlighting innovative applications and the challenges of implementation.

Yang (Alice) Cheng, PhD

Associate Professor and University Faculty Scholar in Communications, NC State University | Profile | ResearchGate | LinkedIn | Google Scholar Dr. Cheng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and an Adjunct Professor at the Poole College of Management, NCSU. She has taught various courses, including strategic management, research methods, introduction to public relations, and crisis communication. Dr. Cheng has demonstrated a long-term commitment to research involving global public relations management, social media and artificial intelligence, and crisis communication. She has published more than 150 journal articles, conference papers, and book chapters, which have been widely cited over 3,800 times. Her work has appeared in leading journals such as New Media & Society, American Behavioral Scientist, Social Science Computer Review, Computers in Human Behavior, Journal of Public Relations Research, Journal of Product & Brand Management, Telematics and Informatics, Mass Communication & Society, International Journal of Communication, Public Relations Review, and Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management. Recently, Dr. Cheng co-edited a book on AI and strategic communication, and she has extensively served as a guest speaker or keynote speaker at international institutions such as MIT, the University of Technology Sydney, Peking University, Zhejiang University, and Fudan University.

Abstract

In our discussion on “AI and Crisis Communication,” we will explore the intersection of AI with contingent organization-public relationships (COPR), a concept introduced by Dr. Cheng. We’ll delve into her latest research on AI modeling and its impact on relationship management during crises. Additionally, we’ll examine AI’s applications in crisis communication, highlighting both the innovative ways it can be employed and the challenges organizations face in its implementation. Join us to gain insights into how AI can enhance crisis communication strategies while navigating the complexities it presents.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Fall Seminar Series

GE American Chestnut: Counting Chestnuts Before They Ripen

Hybrid | Explore the scientific, ethical, and environmental issues which have impacted research, release, and deregulation of a transgenic American chestnut.

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons, MS

Chief Conservation Officer at The American Chestnut Foundation / Penn State University | Profile

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons has worked at Penn State University with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) since 2003, assisting chestnut growers and researchers throughout the Appalachian Mountains. Born and raised in southern West Virginia (Hinton), Sara studied Biology at Drew University in Madison, NJ. She then received a Master’s degree in forest ecology and resource management from Duke University’s Nicholas School, enriched by statistics and tree improvement courses at NCSU. After a short stint as an editorial assistant at All About Beer Magazine, Sara returned to the forestry field, where she has been ever since. Sara hopes her research and professional work will facilitate long-term conservation and restoration of native tree species at risk from exotic pests and diseases.

Abstract

The Darling 58 (D58) transgenic American chestnut was poised to be a transformational product for forest health, one that could hold the key to a suite of forest health issues. For conservationists, landowners, and tree enthusiasts across the US, the excitement was palpable as the project seemingly neared deregulation with government agencies. But in the short span of a few months across 2023, a suite of scientific, ecological, and ethical concerns unraveled much of that promise, as everything that was “known” about D58 was called into question. Early reports about field performance started surfacing in early 2023, with variability in blight tolerance, growth deficiencies, and increased mortality rates casting doubts on D58’s competence for long-term restoration. That performance was further compromised when scientists visited a field trial showcasing “canker blowouts” in Indiana, suggesting that D58 trees may “silence” the transgene when challenged too long with disease. Shortly after that, a “switched at birth” scenario was verified, revealing that Darling 58 (D58) was, in fact, Darling 54 (D54), and uncovered the potential for negative ecological consequences. Finally, the involvement of a for-profit entity raised financial and ethical dilemmas, sparking suspicions of conflicts of interest and prioritizing profit over ecological integrity. Questions about transparency and accountability were brought to the forefront, as public trust in the use of genetically modified organisms for forest health could hang in the balance with the next steps taken on the transgenic American chestnut project.

Related links:

• What happened to Darling 58?
• Chestnut Restoration and Tribal Sovereignty
• When Biotechnology Goes “Wild”: GE Chestnut Trees
• The politics of genetic technoscience for conservation: The case of blight-resistant American chestnut
• Biotechnology, the American Chestnut, and Public Engagement

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Crossing Kingdoms: An Experiment in (Ir)responsible Research?

Zoom Only | An artist-led interdisciplinary experiment with risky science led to boundary-challenging conclusions about what responsibility looks like in responsible research.

Erika Szymanski, PhD

Associate Professor of Rhetoric of Science at Colorado State University | Profile Dr. Erika Szymanski is an associate professor of rhetoric of science in the English department and the microbiome cluster, and an affiliate faculty member in the Cell and Molecular Biology program, at Colorado State University. Her research concerns words as scientific construction tools, human-microbe working relations, and multispecies questions raised by contemporary microbial biotechnologies. Her teaching interests include disciplinary and popular science writing, posthumanist theory, and humanities scholars' roles in interdisciplinary teams.

Dr. Szymanski currently leads an NSF CAREER project called “microbiomish”, about how metaphors shape experimental approaches in microbiome science and possibilities for microbe-human coworking. She is also the US PI on a collaborative UKRI-NSF project called Future Organisms with colleagues in Edinburgh and Tokyo, about responsible research and innovation (RRI), synthetic genomics, and reimagining what "responsible research" means in more-than-human terms. Her other ongoing research involves rethinking genetic code metaphors to account for the interdependence of structural and textual information in engineering biology, the roles of microorganisms in emerging bioeconomies, and more-than-human science policy.

Abstract

Crossing Kingdoms was an experiment in (ir)responsible research. Responsible research and innovation—often abbreviated RRI—is a common framework for science governance across Europe, the UK, and elsewhere. While RRI can be expansive, it’s routinely implemented as a checklist of actions—often delegated to an early-career social scientist, who may effectively be tasked with responsibilizing a scientific project that they didn’t design and in which they have little influence.

Crossing Kingdoms was about pushing back on the notion that social scientists know how to be responsible or to make others responsible, and about questioning the responsibility of defining responsible research in such narrow terms. This artist-led research began with dangerous science—a protein from a snake virus that fuses cell membranes—and a curiosity-driven question: what place do “kingdom-crossing” yeast-mammalian fusion cells have in the world beyond the lab? The ensuing collaboration raised questions that challenged the conservativeness of how RRI is implemented: is art a good reason to do risky science? What is a good reason? How can art-science-social science research be organized for the benefit and mutual learning of all participants? What counts as an outcome? (How) do scientists and artists encourage social scientists to be responsible? Are we really crossing kingdoms, or just juxtaposing them, and why does that matter?

Since its end, the experiment has led to further projects that wouldn’t have happened otherwise: synthetic biology applications of viral protein-driven fusion in synthetic biology, artistic research into the moral value of hybrid cells, and social scientific approaches to responsibility in terms of spaces for counter-normative research trajectories. Our conclusions suggest the value of response-able research, and of doing STS with scientists rather than on or for them. Related links:

• Szymanski, E. et al. (2020). Crossing Kingdoms: How Can Art Open Up New Ways of Thinking About Science? FBOE
• The Tissue Culture &amp; Art Project: Crossing Kingdoms
• The Edinburgh Hub for Responsible Innovation: Building alternative practices for RRI in Japan and the UK
• The Edinburgh Hub for Responsible Innovation: Future Organisms
• Download seminar poster

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Engineering Vibrio natriegens for remediation of PET plastics

Hybrid | This talk covers our recent efforts to engineer the saltwater microbe Vibrio natriegens to break down PET plastics and eat the breakdown products.

Nathan Crook, PhD

Assistant Professor at NC State University | Profile Dr. Crook received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2009, and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, developing new ways to engineer yeast. He pursued postdoctoral studies in Pathology and Immunology at Washington University in Saint Louis School Medicine from 2014-2017, studying approaches to engineer probiotic microbes. Dr. Crook joined the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NCSU in January 2018, and one focus of his group is to engineer bacteria to remediate plastic waste. In 2023, his graduate student, Tianyu Li, published a report demonstrating that the seawater microbe Vibrio natriegens could be engineered to break down PET plastics. This work was highlighted by WUNC and CBS 17, and has served as a catalyst for several follow-on projects.

Abstract

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a highly recyclable plastic material that has been extensively used and manufactured. Like other plastics, PET resists natural degradation and, therefore accumulates in the natural environment. Several recycling strategies have been applied to manage waste PET, but these tend to result in downcycled products that eventually end up in landfills. This accumulation of landfilled PET waste contributes to the formation of microplastics by being broken down into small pieces that pose a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems, and potentially to human health. To address this issue, our project leverages synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to develop a whole-cell biocatalyst capable of degrading and assimilating waste PET in seawater environments. Specifically, we focus on using the fast-growing, nonpathogenic, moderate halophile Vibrio natriegens to construct this biocatalyst. Our talk will highlight two main processes we implemented in our bacterium: PET depolymerization and metabolism of PET breakdown products. We hope that these efforts will inspire bio-based processes for capture and upcycling of plastic waste, thereby preventing its accumulation in the environment.

Related links:

• Tiny Organisms, Transformative Outcomes
• LinkedIn
• Google Scholar
• Crook Lab
• Download seminar poster

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Gene Drive Mosquitoes for Malaria Control: The Governance Challenges

Zoom Only | Gene Drive Mosquitoes for Malaria Control is a short documentary film beautifully shot in Uganda, exploring Ugandan stakeholders’ hopes for gene drive mosquitoes – a radical new tool potentially offering a way to eliminate or change the mosquitoes that cause malaria.

Sarah Hartley, PhD

Professor of Technology Governance at the University of Exeter | Profile Sarah Hartley is a Professor of Technology Governance at the University of Exeter and a Co-Director of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence. She is a qualitative social scientist studying efforts to make technology governance more inclusive of a broader range of voices and values through case studies involving global health, sustainable agriculture, and conservation. Current research is focused on gene drive governance, and she has several projects funded by the British Academy and Wellcome exploring engagement, collaboration, and knowledge co-production in gene drive development and risk assessment in Africa, North America, Australia, and Europe. She has recently begun an innovative programme of film-making to stimulate debate on emerging gene drive and AI technologies. She has a PhD in Politics and Environmental Studies (University of Toronto).

Abstract

Gene Drive Mosquitoes for Malaria Control is a beautifully shot documentary filmed in Uganda, exploring the hopes of Ugandan stakeholders for gene drive mosquitoes—a groundbreaking tool that could potentially eliminate or alter the mosquitoes responsible for spreading malaria. Uganda is among the first countries in the world to prepare for field trials of gene drive mosquitoes, with much at stake. Malaria remains one of the most serious public health challenges in Uganda, heavily impacting its people and healthcare system. It is a leading cause of illness and death, particularly affecting children under five and pregnant women. The film is grounded in social science research from the University of Exeter in the UK and Makerere University in Uganda, highlighting the complexities of governing gene drive technology. Related links:

• Gene Drive Governance
• Gene drive mosquitoes designed to eliminate malaria – but governance is complex, new film shows
• Download seminar poster

The Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Fall Seminar Series

Exploring Experts’ Uncertainties in Gene Drive Technology for Agricultural Pest Control in the U.S.: A Qualitative Study

Zoom Only | This qualitative study investigates the uncertainties and diverse perspectives of experts regarding the potential use of gene drive technology for agricultural pest control in the U.S., focusing on policy preferences and governance considerations to highlight the need for informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Nourou Barry, PhD

Anthropologist and Postdoctoral Scholar at the GES Center at NC State University | Profile

Dr. Nourou Barry is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center, at NC State University. His prior work in Burkina Faso with the Target Malaria consortium focused on developing robust stakeholder engagement strategies in gene drive research. His extensive academic background, culminating in a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Nazi BONI University in Bobo-Dioulasso in 2020, reflects a commitment to exploring the intersection of science, stakeholder engagement, and the social and ethical dimensions of innovative technologies.

At NC State, Dr. Barry’s research at the GES Center primarily focuses on understanding the factors that influence public and stakeholder attitudes toward the acceptance or rejection of genetically engineered technologies and organisms. Additionally, his work with the Sciences and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center involves the comprehensive organization of engagement activities. He is committed to empirically studying and analyzing these initiatives using a methodological approach that ensures academic rigor and precision.

Prior to joining NC State, Dr. Barry held faculty positions at Nazi BONI University and worked as a research associate at the Institute of Health Sciences Research in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. His contributions continue to shape the discourse on the responsible development and application of innovative technologies.

Abstract

Genetic engineering technologies have created new possibilities for controlling agricultural pests, particularly through gene drives to suppress or replace pest populations. However, using these tools raises concerns about their effects on species, ecosystems, as well as broader socioeconomic and cultural risks. Currently, limited research delves into experts’ perspectives on the uncertainties and policy challenges associated with these advancing technologies. In this study, a qualitative approach was employed to conduct in-depth interviews with 25 experts across various disciplines involved in gene drive technologies. The aim was to gain insights into their perspectives on these technologies, particularly in relation to agricultural pest control. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically using the NVivo 14 software. Experts have highlighted diverse uncertainties regarding Gene Drive technology across technical, ecological, regulatory, and social and governance dimensions. Despite these challenges, experts stress the need for ongoing research, emphasizing the importance of safeguards to guarantee effectiveness and a proactive approach to tackle uncertainties effectively. Understanding experts’ uncertainties about gene drive technologies for agricultural pest control is vital for mitigating risks, ensuring regulatory compliance, engaging stakeholders effectively, and fostering innovation. Addressing these uncertainties enables the development of responsible and sustainable pest control strategies that align with societal needs and values while promoting informed decision-making and ethical use of these technologies.

Keywords: Gene drive, Uncertainties, Agricultural pest control, Experts, United States

Related links:

• LinkedIn
• Download seminar poster

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Science Policy, Soft Power, and Responsible Development: Reflections on the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship at the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office

Hybrid | Jason Delborne spent the 2023-24 academic year as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in Washington, DC, working at the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office

Jason Delborne, PhD

Professor at NC State University | Profile Jason joined NC State in 2013 as a GES cluster faculty member and is tenured in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. His research focuses on stakeholder and public engagement surrounding emerging environmental biotechnologies, such as the genetically engineered American chestnut tree and genetic biocontrol for invasive species. He spent the 2023-24 academic year as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow in Washington, DC, where he worked at the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. This will be Jason’s final semester at NC State, as he will begin a new faculty position in science and technology policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Public Affairs in January 2025.

Abstract

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships (STPF) provide opportunities to scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about policymaking and contribute their knowledge and analytical skills in the policy realm. Fellows serve yearlong assignments in the federal government and represent a broad range of backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages. Each year, STPF adds to a growing corps nearly 4,000 strong of policy-savvy leaders working across academia, government, nonprofits, and industry to serve the nation and citizens around the world. As an executive branch fellow, Jason Delborne spent the 2023-24 academic year on scholarly reassignment to the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office. In this capacity, he learned about the practice of science and technology policy within an agency that exercised “soft power” to convene and coordinate federal research and development efforts on nanotechnology. In particular, he focused on the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s explicit goal of “responsible development,” organizing a workshop to reinvigorate a network of social scientists attending to nanotechnology. Jason will reflect on his experience and answer questions about the fellowship as a potential career path for graduate students in the social, natural, and physical sciences.

Related links:

• Science &amp; Technology Policy Fellowships
• National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO)
• Download seminar poster

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Dawn Rodriguez-Ward and Katie Barnhill, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Final GES Colloquium podcast of Spring 2024

Investigating the societal and ethical implications of synthetic cells

Barbara Herr Harthorn, PhD, Research Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

Profile | DOWNLOAD SEMINAR POSTER

This talk introduces 3 ongoing NSF-funded collaborative interdisciplinary projects investigating US public and expert views on bottom-up synthetic cells using a responsible research and innovation framework.

Abstract

Based on three collaborative interdisciplinary research projects on bottom synthetic cells in development in the US on which she is PI, this paper presents an overview of findings on diverse publics’ perceptions of the benefits and risks of new syn cells and some of the main drivers of these views. The research uses a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodological toolkit based on semi-structured interviews, a large representative national survey, and public deliberations. Professor Harthorn examines the range and nuances of public views on these in-the-making science and engineering innovations and promises of enchanted futures, evolution-defying bioengineered life, and economic benefits. In spite of enduring techno-optimism, U.S. publics’ concerns center on the role of such technologies in accelerating economic and social inequalities and injustice. The project also explores public perceived boundaries between living/nonliving, perceived characteristics of life, and other factors that differentiate syn cell perceptions from those of other emerging technologies. The implications of these findings for technological governance and participatory democracy will be discussed.

Speaker Bio

Barbara Herr Harthorn is Professor Emerita and Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She is a medical, cultural, and psychological anthropologist whose research for the past 2 decades has focused on risk perception and public deliberation on societal and ethical aspects of new technologies, including nanotechnologies, fracking, and, currently, synthetic biology/synthetic cells. She served as founding Director and PI of the NSF national center, NSEC: Center for Nanotechnology in Society at the University of California at Santa Barbara (CNS-UCSB) from 2005-2017. In the CNS, she led international, interdisciplinary teams using mixed social science research methods to study risk and benefit perception regarding new technologies among experts and lay publics in the US and abroad. Since 2019, she has been conducting research on public and expert perceptions of synthetic biology and bottom-up synthetic cells within a responsible research and innovation framework. Dr. Harthorn’s publications include The Social Life of Nanotechnology (2012, Routledge, with John Mohr) and Risk, Culture & Health Inequality: Shifting Perceptions of Danger and Blame (2003, Greenwood/Praeger, with Laury Oaks) and numerous chapters, reports, and articles in risk analysis, social science, science and technology studies, science policy, environmental science, and nanoscience journals. She has given invited expert testimony on science in society issues to the US Congressional National Nanotechnology Caucus, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), the NAS, the US National Nanotechnology Initiative, the US Multi-Agency group on Synthetic Biology, and the European Commission, among many others. Her past work included over a decade of research on Latina/o farmworker health and risk perceptions in California. She is an elected Fellow of the American Anthropological Association, the Society for Applied Anthropology, and the AAAS.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Gene technology in aquaculture: Potential, constraints, and first products to commercialization <h4>Eric Hallerman, PhD, Emeritus Professor, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech University</h4>

While aquaculture biotechnology has the potential to improve the sustainability of aquaculture, its realization will depend upon enabling public policy.

Download seminar poster

Abstract

Aquaculture products are important to human nutrition, especially in developing countries. To meet growing global demand, aquaculture must improve production systems and farmed stocks, the latter using both selective breeding and gene technology. Fishes are excellent systems for gene technology, and numerous transgenic and gene-edited lines have been developed. While there has been considerable R&D, there has been little penetration of the marketplace. The reasons for this will be considered, with a case study focusing on the development and regulatory oversight of the AquAdvantage Atlantic salmon, the first genetically modified animal approved for use as food globally. Two gene-edited marine fishes have been approved for sale in Japan. Will other animal products of gene technology be approved? To realize the benefits of animal biotechnology, we will need not just innovation, but also enabling regulation creating a pathway to the market, and engagement with the private and NGO sectors and the public.

Related links:

• Heritable Genetic Modification in Food Animals, NASEM
• SAAA Animal Biotechnology Resources: https://www.isaaa.org/kc/proceedings/animalbiotechnology
• Hallerman, E., J. Bredlau, L.S. Camargo, et al. 2024. Enabling regulatory policy globally will promote realization of the potential of animal biotechnology. CABI Agriculture and Life Sciences, 5: 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-024-00221-6. PDF

Speaker Bio

Eric Hallerman is a recently retired Professor of Fish Conservation at Virginia Tech University and is currently serving as the Chair of the ad hoc committee appointed by the National Academies to explore heritable genetic modifications of food animals. His research has included conservation genetics of fishes and mollusks, aquaculture genetics, and aquaculture biotechnology and policy. He has done research on gene transfer in fish, effective confinement of aquaculture species, ecological risk assessment for genetically modified fish, and related public policies. He has done such work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and several NGOs. He has served on several committees of the National Academy of Sciences with mandates in these areas and organized several international workshops on animal biotechnology policy.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | Watch Colloquium Videos | LinkedIn | Newsletter

GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

How essences distort our understanding of genes: Implications for eugenics and GMO attitudes <h4>Steven Heine, PhD, Professor of Cultural & Social Psychology, University of British Columbia</h4>

Profile | @StevenHeine4 How psychological biases of essentialism distort the ways people understand genetics, eugenics, and GMO products.

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

People the world over are essentialist thinkers – they are attracted to the idea that hidden essences make things as they are. And because genetic concepts remind people of essences, they tend to think of genes in ways similar to essences. That is, people tend to think about genetic causes as immutable, deterministic, natural, and they create homogenous and discrete groups. I will discuss the results of a number of psychological experiments that reveals how people’s essentialist biases distort the way that they understand genetic causes. In particular, I’ll discuss the relationships between essentialist thinking, eugenic beliefs, and attitudes towards GMO products.

Related links:

• DNA Is Not Destiny: The Remarkable, Completely Misunderstood Relationship between You and Your Genes, Steven Heine

Speaker Bio

Steven J. Heine is a Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology and a Distinguished University Scholar at the University of British Columbia. After receiving his PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1996, he had visiting positions at Kyoto University and Tokyo University, and was on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania before returning to British Columbia. Heine has published several dozen journal articles in such periodicals as Science, Nature, and Behavioral and Brain Sciences He has authored the best-selling textbook in its field, entitled “Cultural Psychology,” and has written a trade book called “DNA is not Destiny.” Heine has received numerous international awards and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Heine’s research focuses on a few topics that converge on how people come to understand themselves and their worlds. One of his main projects, which is the topic of his presentation, focuses on genetic essentialism, which explores how people make sense of genetic ideas. Quite typically, people have an overly fatalistic understanding about how genes influence their lives. For example, he finds that when people learn that genes relate to their risk for obesity they subsequently tend to eat more junk food, as they feel that their weight is beyond their control. He has explored how people’s essentialist views of genetics affects their support for eugenics and GMO products.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

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Eugenics and the Welfare State in North Carolina + Anna Krome-Lukens, PhD, Teaching Associate Professor, Public Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill

Profile | Download seminar poster In North Carolina, social reformers and welfare officials relied on eugenics ideology as they built the welfare state before the New Deal, with lasting effects for our contemporary definitions of citizenship.

Abstract

Between 1929 and 1977, North Carolina officials approved the surgical sterilization of over 7,600 people under the aegis of the state’s eugenics program. To help explain the persistence of this program, I turn to its roots, since rationales for eugenics offered in the first three decades of the twentieth century shaped the course of the program for years to come. In this talk, I analyze the growing appeal of eugenics to influential white North Carolinians who debated and promoted eugenics from 1900 onward. These social reformers honed their ideas about eugenic fitness and the need to preserve the Anglo-Saxon race while they built a statewide social welfare apparatus. Their statewide grid of welfare offices later became the basis for distribution of New Deal funds.

In building this statewide welfare system, reformers and social workers eagerly explored eugenics as a solution to social problems, then refashioned and interpreted eugenic principles for a broader audience. They linked principles of eugenics to ideas that already had broad support among white middle-class North Carolinians, including Christian charity, racial segregation, and a celebration of the state’s Anglo-Saxon heritage. They also relied on eugenics-inspired metaphors to rationalize the unequal distribution of welfare services, giving new force and apparent scientific legitimacy to longstanding prejudices about the undeserving poor. They trained a new generation of professional social workers to see eugenically “unfit” people as undeserving of social services, and they promised that segregation and sterilization would curb the costs of social welfare programs. Ultimately, North Carolina’s white social reformers built eugenics-inspired ideas of racialized fitness and restrictive definitions of citizenship into our contemporary institutions.

Speaker Bio

Anna Krome-Lukens completed her Ph.D. in U.S. History at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on the history of social welfare and public health policies, particularly the history of North Carolina’s eugenics and social welfare programs in the early 20th century. Anna is currently working on a book manuscript entitled Reform and Regeneration: Eugenics and the Welfare State in the South, which demonstrates the lasting influence of eugenics in shaping welfare policies and conceptions of citizenship. She directs UNC’s Public Policy Capstone Program and also teaches first-year courses on higher education and food policy.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. The Podcast is produced by Patti Mulligan. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

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Caring for the Enemy, Killing the Ally: The More-than-Human Politics of Transgenic Mosquitoes in Brazil <h4>Luisa Reis-Castro, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern California</h4>

Profile | X | Bluesky | Download Seminar Poster This talk, based on ethnographic research with scientists and technicians working with transgenic mosquitoes in Brazil, examines the class, gender, and regional issues present in the efforts to transform the mosquito from a “problem” into a “solution.”

Abstract

The Aedes aegypti mosquito, known as the vector for Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses, has historically been targeted by public health campaigns as an enemy to be eliminated. However, new strategies, such as the transgenic approach, biologically modify the A. aegypti so that they can be deployed to control their own population—here, mosquito breeding and mating are operationalized as an insecticide. In this case, the insect must be simultaneously a friend and an enemy, cared for and killed, and it must establish encounters and nonencounters. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork at a “biofactory” in the northeast of Brazil dedicated to mass-producing these transgenic mosquitoes, this article investigates the new forms of labor and value produced through these contrasting human-mosquito relations. The author also examines how the project is implemented within the broader geopolitics of experimentation and more-than-human gendered conceptions. Analyzing the multispecies relationships engendered under the premise that it is possible to produce nonencounters, she identifies the historical conditions and promissory claims of transforming the A. aegypti ’s reproductive capacity into labor for killing. Such recasting yields what the author calls the “nonencounter value” within the scientific remaking of mosquitoes, their becoming and being.

Related links:

• Luísa Reis-Castro; Becoming Without: Making Transgenic Mosquitoes and Disease Control in Brazil. Environmental Humanities 1 November 2021; 13 (2): 323–347. https://doi.org/10.1215/22011919-9320178. PDF
• Video: Haedes &amp; Aegypta e a abordagem da Oxitec (Anthropomophized mosquitoes depicting the male as a hero and the female as the villain)

Speaker Bio

Dr. Luísa Reis-Castro is an Assistant Professor in Anthropology. Reis-Castro’s research broadly explores the social, cultural, political, and historical dimensions of scientific knowledge about human-animal relations, particularly when harm to humans is involved, as seen with mosquitoes transmitting pathogens. Her first project investigates techno-scientific projects in Brazil that, rather than fight against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, work to harness the insect to tackle the viruses it is known to transmit (Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever). By using ethnographic and historical research methods, she explores what these projects can tell us about the geopolitics of knowledge production in an interdependent, unequal world increasingly affected by human activity. She received her PhD from the Program in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

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Local seeds and global needs: Ethnobotany, agroecology, and the history of in situ conservation of agrobiodiversity <h4>Helen Anne Curry, PhD, Melvin Kranzberg Professor in the History of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology</h4>

Website | @TechHSOC This talk will explore how insights from Indigenous agricultural practices, both past and present, can inform global efforts to conserve diverse crop varieties and bridge the gap between local practices and broader sustainability goals.

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

For decades, diverse disciplines like ethnobotany, agroecology, and agricultural anthropology have strived to understand the agricultural practices of Indigenous peoples. Since the 1980s, this research has frequently been intertwined with conservation efforts. For example, it has promoted local farming methods and tools as ways to maintain biodiverse forests and prevent soil erosion. In this presentation, Dr. Curry digs into the future influence of research on Indigenous agriculture on the preservation of global crop diversity. She examines how social scientists have constructed new narratives about the past and present of Indigenous cultivation. These narratives then inform arguments about the most desirable agricultural futures, both within and beyond Indigenous communities. Typically, these accounts of past and future agriculture have focused on specific crop varieties: locally adapted plants believed to be traditionally cultivated but now endangered by agricultural intensification. Consequently, the research of ethnobotanists and agroecologists has fueled new interest in and approaches to protecting these varieties, ultimately forging a lasting connection between local cultivation practices and global conservation concerns.

Related links:

• From Collection to Cultivation: Historical Perspectives on Crop Diversity and Food Security

Speaker Bio

Dr. Helen Anne Curry is Melvin Kranzberg Professor in the History of Technology at the School of History and Sociology, Georgia Institute of Technology. She is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, where she leads the multi-researcher project, “From Collection to Cultivation: Historical Perspectives on Crop Diversity and Food Security,” with funding from the Wellcome Trust. Her current research centers on the histories of seeds, crop science, and industrial agriculture. She is the author of Evolution Made to Order: Plant Breeding and Technological Innovation in Twentieth Century America (University of Chicago Press, 2016) and Endangered Maize: Industrial Agriculture and the Crisis of Extinction (University of California Press, 2022).

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Indigenous Perspectives on Synthetic Biology for Conservation <h4>Kirsty Wissing, PhD, Research Fellow, Australian National University | Profile</h4>

A discussion of synthetic biology and Torres Strait Islanders, bringing their perspectives into conversation to explore cultural implications for future island-bound applications of genetic biocontrol technologies, such as gene drives.

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

Applied over generations, genetic biocontrol technologies (GBTs), such as gene drives, have the potential to radically reduce a pest population through suppressed breeding. As this technology develops, synthetic biology (synbio) scientists have identified islands as potential environments in which to trial the release of approved gene drives in the future. But what happens when an Indigenous ethical lens is applied to island-bound synbio? The Torres Strait Islands stretch between mainland Australia, of which they are a part, and Papua New Guinea. The Straits’ water facilitates Islanders’ mobility and fosters customary connection and trans/national notions of kin, while also informing engagement with and care for this environment. In this world where water connects, how might Torres Strait Islanders’ understandings complicate and/or contribute to concepts of islands as contained, “watertight” field sites for future GBT trials? And how is a changing climate and rising sea levels impacting Islanders’ environments, identities and, relatedly, an appetite for or apprehension of synbio science? This paper brings synbio science and Torres Strait Islanders’ perspectives into conversation to explore cultural implications for future island-bound applications of GBTs.

Related links:

• Wissing, K., & Webb, T. (2023). Kes (Passageway): Cross-Cultural Considerations of Island Field Containment in the Torres Strait. Oceania. PDF
• Our Knowledge, Our Way (guidelines), CSIRO
• Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research, The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
• Access and benefit-sharing for Australian Synthetic Biologists: Best Practice Guidelines for compliance and risk management, CSIRO

Related colloquiums:

• Exploring Synergies: Overlapping International Dialogue on Invasive Alien Species Removal on Islands with Synthetic Biology, by Carolina Torres Trueba, Island Conservation
• From containment to connectivity: an oceanic approach to gene drive governance, by Riley Taitingfong, Native Nations Institute, University of Arizona

Speaker Bio

Dr. Kirsty Wissing is a Research Fellow at the Australian National University and a Visiting Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency. She has previously been a member of CSIRO’s Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform and CSIRO’s Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform. Trained as an anthropologist (social scientist), Kirsty’s research considers Indigenous and customary values, relationships with and resource responsibility for tangible and intangible environments in Australia and Ghana. Her work sits at the intersection of cross-cultural approaches to environmental disasters such as flooding, invasive species incursions and biodiversity loss. In this presentation, Kirsty seeks to bring scholars and practitioners of synthetic biology into dialogue with Torres Strait Islanders’ perspectives to consider cultural implications for future island-bound applications of genetic biocontrol technologies such as gene drives. __

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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Ecological and evolutionary perspectives on genetic engineering <h4>David Andow, PhD,  Professor and Department Head, Applied Ecology, NC State University | Profile | @NCStateAEC</h4>

Ecological and evolutionary perspectives have greatly influenced the development of genetic engineering as exemplified by significant events from history.

<h5>Download seminar poster [icon name=&quot;download&quot; style=&quot;solid&quot; class=&quot;&quot; unprefixed_class=&quot;&quot;]</h5> Abstract

Ecological and evolutionary perspectives have greatly influenced the development of genetic engineering throughout its relatively recent history. I will focus my discussion on key events during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, many of which reverberate today. By 1980, it was clear that commercial applications of genetic engineering would be released into the environment, but it was not clear what organisms would be released. Generic environmental safety arguments flourished, but ecological and evolutionary critiques torpedoed these, and a careful assessment of likely genetically modified organisms (GMOs) prevailed. These resulted in the case-by-case approach to the risks of GMOs that persists today. In the US, it is enshrined in the 1986 Coordinated Framework.

At that time, the focus was on GM microbes, such as ice-minus bacteria and the endophytic bacterium, Clavibacter xyli. Rapid developments in plant transformation, especially maize, completely upended the industry, and in the 1990s, ecological risk assessment shifted accordingly. The exponential increase in the number of releases of GM plants stressed the case-by-case approach, and it was necessary for ecological considerations to address the question of what constitutes a novel case that would require more oversight versus a case similar to one already evaluated. This was also an important contributor to the reopening of non-target evaluations and provided an avenue to implement resistance management in a regulatory context. The 2000s opened with a bang with the Losey, Rayor and Carter 1999 and Quist and Chapela 2001 articles in Nature, which exposed the serious gaps in the ecological risks assessment methods used throughout the world. These gaps present challenges that have yet to be fully resolved today.

Related links:

• Regal, P. J. (1986). Models of genetically engineered organisms and their ecological impact. In Ecology of biological invasions of North America and Hawaii (pp. 111-129). New York, NY: Springer New York.
• Environmental Management, 1986, 10(4), entire issue
• Krimsky, S., Andow, D.A., Doyle, J., Mellon, M., and C. Nader. 1987. Beyond the technical problems of intentional release. In J.W. Gillett (ed.), Prospects for Physical and Biological Containment of Genetically Engineered Organisms. Ecosystems Research Center, Cornell University, ERC-114, pp. 67-74.
• Andow, D.A., S.A. Levin, and M.A. Harwell. 1987. Evaluating environmental risks from biotechnology: Contributions of ecology. In J.R. Fowle III, (ed.), Application of Biotechnology: Environmental and Policy Issues (Westview: Boulder, CO), pp. 125-144.
• Alstad, D.N. and D.A. Andow. 1995. Managing the evolution of insect resistance to transgenic plants. Science 268: 1894-1896.
• Andow, D.A. and D.N. Alstad. 1998. The F2 screen for rare resistance alleles. Journal of Economic Entomology, 91: 572-578.
• Losey, J. E., Rayor, L. S., & Carter, M. E. (1999). Transgenic pollen harms monarch larvae. Nature, 399(6733), 214-214.
• Quist, D., & Chapela, I. H. (2001). Transgenic DNA introgressed into traditional maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexico. Nature, 414(6863), 541-543.

• Andow, D.A. and A.R. Ives. 2002. Monitoring and adaptive resistance management. Ecological Applications 12: 1378–1390. Ives, A.R. and D.A. Andow. 2002. Evolution of resistance to Bt crops: Directional selection in structured environments. Ecology Letters 5:792-801.

• Haygood, R., A.R. Ives, and D.A. Andow. 2003. Consequences of recurrent gene flow from crops to wild relatives. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 270: 1879-1886.

• Haygood, R., A. R. Ives and D. A. Andow. 2004. Population genetics of transgene containment. Ecology Letters 7: 213-220.
• Hilbeck, A. and D.A. Andow (eds). 2004. Environmental Risk Assessment of Transgenic Organisms: A Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya. CABI: Wallingford, UK. xvii + 281 pp.
• Andow, D. A. (ed.) 2004. A growing concern: Protecting the food supply in an era of pharmaceutical and industrial crops. Union of Concerned Scientists, Boston, Massachusetts. vi + 125 pp.
• Hilbeck, A., D.A. Andow and E.M.G. Fontes (eds.). 2006. Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms: Methodologies for Assessing Bt Cotton in Brazil. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, xx + 373 pp.
• Andow, D.A and C. Zwahlen. 2006. Assessing environmental risks of transgenic plants. Ecology Letters 9: 196-214.
• Andow, D.A., A. Hilbeck and Nguyễn Văn Tuất (eds). 2008. Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetically Modified Organisms: Challenges and Opportunities with Bt Cotton in Viet Nam. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, xx + 360 pp.
• Lövei, G. L., D. A. Andow and S. Arpaia. 2009. Transgenic insecticidal crops and natural enemies: a detailed review of laboratory studies. Environmental Entomology 38(2): 293-306.
• Andow, D. A., G. L. Lövei, and S. Arpaia. 2009. Cry toxins and proteinase inhibitors in transgenic plants do have non-zero effects on natural enemies in the laboratory: Rebuttal to Shelton et al., 2009. Environmental Entomology 38: 1528-1532.
• Andow, D. A. and G. L. Lövei. 2012. Cry toxins in transgenic plants have direct effects on natural enemies in the laboratory. Environmental Entomology 41(5): 1045-47. DOI: doi.org/10.1603/EN11238

Speaker Bio

Ecologist David Andow began his new role leading the Department of Applied Ecology in August last year. He served as a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota for 38 years. His research has focused on insect population and community ecology, ecological risk assessment of invasive species and genetically engineered organisms, insect resistance management, and science policy. He graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Biology from Brown University and a PhD in Ecology from Cornell University before completing a post-doc at the National Institute of Agro-environmental Sciences in Japan. He has had long-standing cooperative research with Embrapa in Brazil, where he was for three years before coming to NC State.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.  

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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From Plants to People: Mendelian Eugenics in NC in the 20th Century

Grace Wiedrich, CRDM PhD Student, NC State University The Mendelian eugenics movement in NC provides a useful case study into the lasting impact of over-generalized genetic theory on governments, medical professionals, and activists.

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

The history of eugenics in the United States is deeply entwined with theories about plants and animals arising in the 19th century. By the early 20th century, selective breeding of humans became a popular concern around the country. It was believed that all traits, from hair color to intelligence to morality, were passed on through the blood. However, even after geneticists had proven eugenics to be a pseudoscience by the 1930s, the popular culture of eugenics deeply impacted public policy, education, and activism into the 1970s. North Carolina provides a useful case study into the lasting impact of over-generalized genetic theory on governments, medical professionals, and activists.

Speaker Bio

Grace Wiedrich is currently a PhD student in Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media and an instructor in the English department at NC State. Her research focuses on eugenics rhetoric during the 20th century in the United States, with a special interest in the interplay among race, gender, and ability.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.

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Public Engagement: Missing the Mark? <h4>Katie Barnhill, PhD, Senior Research Scholar, GES Center, NC State | Profile | Google Scholar</h4>

Scholars and funders alike have increasingly recognized engagement as an important dimension of innovation, but is engagement accomplishing what we think it is?

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

Emerging environmental biotechnologies such as gene drives have often been called for to respond to wicked environmental problems, including applications that have the potential to protect land and water (pesticide reduction), species protection, and human health. As gene drives are advancing at a rapid pace, myriad STS scholars have called for broad and inclusive community, stakeholder, and public engagement practices as a critical part of the epistemic landscape that should shape the innovation of these technologies. But in practice, how have these engagement practices contributed meaningfully to the responsible and just innovation of gene drives, particularly in the context of gene drives for vector control?

Drawing on an analysis of 73 documents related to more than 20 projects, groups, and institutions that have conducted some form of engagement about gene drives for vector control, we demonstrate that the vast majority of engagement activities’ outcomes have minimal measurable impact on gene drive innovation. In fact, most engagement outcomes (1) feed directly into further engagement scholarship and practice or (2) measure and/or encourage community acceptance of the technology. A minority of our findings included outcomes that were intended to shape governance or innovation practices themselves. If engagement practices that are normatively described as relational and co-productive, what do these results say about true politics of involvement in shaping shared futures?

In addition to expanding upon the measured outcomes of these engagement activities, I suggest reasons for why there is such a notable mismatch between what the STS engagement literature calls for and what outcomes are generated from engagement practices. Finally, I offer a potential solution to this mismatch, inviting social scientists and other engagement practitioners to turn the framework of responsible innovation onto ourselves.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Katie Barnhill: Drawing on interdisciplinary fields such as Environmental Science & Policy and Science, Technology, & Society studies, Dr. Barnhill primarily focuses on stakeholder engagement as an important mechanism for the governance of emerging environmental biotechnologies. She has worked on the governance and social science of biotechnology projects that have included applications such as invasive species management, species restoration, sustainable agricultural pest management, and public health. Dr. Barnhill has international research experience, has managed international research teams, and has experience collaborating with Indigenous community leaders in the U.S.

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Final seminar of the fall 2023 semester! Join us again in early January, 2024.

From containment to connectivity: an oceanic approach to gene drive governance Riley Taitingfong, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Native Nations Institute, University of Arizona

Profile | LinkedIn | @riley_ilyse An exploration of the containment paradigm in gene drive research and discourse, drawing on feminist and Indigenous science studies, and proposes a connectivity-based approach to gene drive governance.

<h5>DOWNLOAD SEMINAR POSTER</h5> Abstract

Dr. Riley Taitingfong explores the widespread proposals for implementing novel genetic engineering technologies, specifically gene drives, on islands. Employing an interdisciplinary approach rooted in Communication Studies, Indigenous studies, and feminist science studies, her inquiry delves into how the scientific and regulatory literature supports the assertion that islands are optimal field trial sites for gene drives. The analysis centers on the activation of containment and confinement as crucial concepts that shape the discourse and material practices surrounding the “safe” development and utilization of gene drive-carrying organisms. This spans from enclosed laboratory tests to open outdoor releases, illustrating the intricate depiction of containment as a process accomplished through material infrastructure and stringent protocols. This portrayal stands in contrast to the depiction of confinement as an intrinsic quality of island geographies. Islands are often depicted as naturally conducive to biosafety, absent the constructed structures found in physical laboratories. She argues that the relatively weak operationalization of confinement in island settings stems from deep-seated associations between island geographies and isolation, rooted in colonial imaginaries that historically justified experimentation on both the geographies and peoples of islands. She further contends that the rhetorical emphasis on safety and security in the literature masks the extent to which proposals advocate for displacing risks onto island geographies. In conclusion, Dr. Taitingtong offers strategies and tools for reimagining gene drive governance through oceanic perspectives, rejecting narrow frameworks of isolation in favor of foregrounding connectivity and relationships as essential elements in the ethical governance of science and technology.

Related links:

• Taitingfong, R. I. (2020). Islands as laboratories: indigenous knowledge and gene drives in the Pacific. Human Biology, 91(3), 179-188. PDF (Requires login with Unity ID)
• Taitingfong, R., & Ullah, A. (2021). Empowering indigenous knowledge in deliberations on gene editing in the wild. Hastings Center Report, 51, S74-S84. PDF
• Natalie Kofler and Riley Taitingfong. Advances in genetic engineering test democracy’s capacity for good decision-making. The Boston Globe. (2020). PDF

Speaker Bio

Dr. Riley Taitingfong is a Chamoru researcher and educator working on issues of environmental justice, Indigenous self-determination, emerging technologies, and community engagement. She completed her PhD in Communication at the University of California San Diego, where her project focused on Indigenous governance of gene drive technologies. Riley is currently a postdoctoral researcher with the Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona, where her projects focus on building practical tools for Indigenous Data Sovereignty. When she’s not working, Riley loves to go birding, paddling, and diving.

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American farmers in the Brazilian Cerrado: A comparative ethnography of the soy boom Andrew Ofstehage, Program Coordinator of CALS International Programs at NC State University

Profile | Website A look at the farming strategies of two communities of North American farmers in Brazil and how they make sense of thorny subjects such as farmland financialization, genetically engineered crops, and labor management.

<h5>Download seminar poster</h5> Abstract

This talk focuses on a comparative ethnography of two groups of transnational soybean farmers in the Brazilian Cerrado. In 1968, Holdeman Mennonites embarked on a tour of rural Brazil. In search of autonomy, they found cheap farmland in Rio Verde, Goiás and encountered a government eager for their migration. Decades later, a group of Midwestern family farmers toured rural Brazil and found cheap, expansive farmland. They courted investors (mostly neighboring farmers), bought massive tracts of land, and settled in Luis Eduardo Magalhães, Bahia. The two groups’ migrations began with experiences of crisis: for the Mennonites, a cultural crisis in the United States that threatened their family and community reproduction and for the Midwestern family farmers a farm crisis which threatened their livelihoods. In Brazil, they adopted common farming techniques related to soil fertilization and tillage, yet differed in crop rotations, use of technology, and most starkly in their perceptions of what counted as “good farming.” Each community internally contested identity and value as they made meaning out of transnational lives and industrial farming. Their negotiation of agronomic factors, cultural preferences, and the economics of producing soy in Brazil demonstrates the interconnectivity of social and material factors in agriculture. Related links:

• Andrew Ofstehage. (2018), Farming out of place:. American Ethnologist, 45: 317-329. https://doi.org/10.1111/amet.12667
• Andrew Ofstehage (2016) Farming is easy, becoming Brazilian is hard: North American soy farmers’ social values of production, work and land in Soylandia, The Journal of Peasant Studies, 43:2, 442-460, DOI: 10.1080/03066150.2014.998651

Speaker Bio

Dr. Andrew Ofstehage is currently a program coordinator at NC State; previously, he was a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University. He completed his PhD in Anthropology in 2018 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he defended his dissertation, “‘When We Came There Was Nothing’: Land, Work, and Value among Transnational Soybean Farmers in the Brazilian Cerrado.” His research among transnational soybean farmers in Brazil incorporates training in agronomy and anthropology and asks how transnational farmers engage with soils and landscapes in Brazil; become managers of workers and investors; and create and re-create agrarian communities out of place. He is now conducting new research on the bio-cultural life of soy consumption in the United States, planning new work on the socio-material life of soil, and continuing ethnographic research with transnational soy farmers in Brazil.

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Exploring Synergies: Overlapping International Dialogue on Invasive Alien Species Removal on Islands with Synthetic Biology Carolina Torres Trueba, Lawyer at Island Conservation

Profile | Website Synthetic biology offers new hope for the eradication of invasive alien species from islands, a pressing need in the face of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

<h5>Download seminar poster</h5> Abstract

The talk explores the dynamic intersection between international dialogue on synthetic biology (SynBio) and the pressing need for new tools for the removal of invasive alien species (IAS) from islands. It begins by highlighting the vulnerability and ecological importance of the world’s islands, often threatened by the disruptive presence of IAS. Simultaneously, it develops, from a personal and practical perspective, the path of the dialogue of IAS and the interaction with synthetic biology. It also extends on these two issues at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and how this dialogue shapes the ethical and policy framework for Synbio. This presentation uncovers the fertile common ground where these two spheres converge, translating high-level policy aspirations into tangible, science-based actions. The talk delves into the challenges posed by IAS in island ecosystems and emphasizes the role that synthetic biology can play for the conservation of species and the prevention of extinctions by providing innovative tools for their control and eradication. Through collaborative solutions, the talk concludes by highlighting the potential of synthetic biology for the eradication of invasive exotic species and the need to continue the search for new technologies to solve the pressing problems of the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity.

Related links:

• Island communities threatened by invasive rodents have potential new conservation tool, Island Conservation, Nov. 2022
• Genetic frontiers for conservation: an assessment of synthetic biology and biodiversity conservation. IUCN Task Force on Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity Conservation, 2019. Download PDF
• Process of Elimination, Wired, Feb. 2018

Speaker Bio

Carolina Torres Trueba is an attorney at law, with a minor in litigant, financial and corporate law from Universidad de los Hemisferios. She has over ten years of experience managing environmental cases. In the conservation field, she was the lead attorney for the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD). During her period at the GNPD, she managed environmental issues regarding vessel wrecks on San Cristobal Island as well as environmental cases in the Galápagos. She is a member of the International Trans-disciplinary Academy of Environment (ATINA), and a Kinship Conservation Fellow (2019 cohort). She has been the focal point for international policy matters at the United Nations (UN) and The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) representing IC. She has supported the dialogue on synthetic biology and Gene Drives since 2015.

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PreMiEr ERC Societal, Ethical and Policy Implications of Microbiome Engineering

Jennifer Kuzma, PhD, Co-Director of GES Center, & Associate Director of PreMiEr at NC State | Profile page Download seminar poster 

Abstract

The engineering of microbiomes in the built environment is a new area of inquiry that comes with many uncertainties and under-explored societal implications. This talk will explore the work of the new NSF-funded Precision Microbiome Engineering Center (PreMiEr) and the exploration of the social, equity, and ethical (SEI) implications. Related links:

• PreMiEr project site: https://premier-microbiome.org/
• PreMiEr SEI homepage: https://go.ncsu.edu/nsf-premier

Speaker Bio

Jennifer Kuzma, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs, and co-founder and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center at NC State University. She also serves as Associate Director and Lead of the Societal and Ethical Implications Core of the new NSF Precision Microbiome Engineering Center.

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Labeling Food Risk and Lifestyle Politics: A Critical History

Xaq Frohlich, PhD, Associate Professor of History at Auburn University

A history of U.S. food labeling policies and “informational turn” in food politics, and a critical look at debates in recent decades over labeling GMOs, “organic”, and other food risks and alternative food movements.

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

In recent decades there has been a proliferation of third-party certification schemes in food markets, which consumers experienced at the supermarket through various new labels for lifestyles: organic, non-GM, dolphin-safe, carbon footprint, fair-trade, and animal-welfare approved, among others. Drawing from my forthcoming book, From Label to Table: Regulating Food in America in the Information Age (UC Press, 2023), this talk gives a history of this “informational turn” in food politics, starting with the U.S. FDA’s turn to nutrition labeling in the 1970s. It then situates debates in the 1990s about GMO labeling and USDA “organic,” debates that continue today, in a larger history of risk labeling and credence goods that illustrates persistent ambivalence among policymakers on the wisdom of using the food label as a tool to “empower” or “nudge” consumers on controversial subjects. While many have heralded informative labels, such as the FDA’s introduction of the Nutrition Facts panel in 1993, as a new form of hands-off, yet pro-public governance that enables healthy choices, I make the case that informative labels are also a problematic market device that unloads responsibility onto consumers, and, as is the case for the recent “bioengineered” foods label, can even work as a technology of obfuscation, rather than transparency. Through a history of the food labels in America, this talk explores the struggles of scientific, legal, and market experts to frame food, diet and risk for the average consumer.

Resource Links

• From Label to Table: Regulating Food in America in the Information Age, by Xaq Frohlich
• Download flyer for 30% off discount code

Speaker Bio

Xaq Frohlich is an associate professor of history of technology at Auburn University. He is trained in history and STS, and his research centers on food, diet and health risks, consumer politics, and market governance. His book, From Label to Table: Regulating Food in America in the Information Age (UC Press, 2023), tells a biography of the food label, from the U.S. FDA’s food standards to the use of informative labels (such as Nutrition Facts) today.

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CRISPR/Cas-9-Based Gene Drive To Suppress Agricultural Pests

Amarish Yadav, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow (Max Scott Lab) at NC State | Profile | Google Scholar A discussion about the molecular genetics of homing gene drives disrupting doublesex gene, as well as its potential and challenges in the D. suzukii population control.

<h5>Download seminar poster</h5> Abstract

The CRISPR/Cas9-based homing ‘gene drive’ has emerged as a revolutionary genetic-based method that holds great promise for control of insect pests. Insect pests pose a significant risk to global crop loss, food security, and public health. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the field of modern gene-drive which advances our understanding of its genetic and molecular mechanisms, biocontainment strategies, potential risks, and challenges. Using the genome-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9, Amarish has successfully developed and evaluated a split (biosafe) homing gene-drive which disrupts doublesex gene for the population control of an agricultural pest, Drosophila suzukii. The initial homing gene drive strains he made showed dominant female sterility and biased inheritance of up to 70%. The drive construct was modified such that females were dominant fertile (recessive sterile) and the Cas9 construct re-engineered using D. suzukii components. The final split-homing gene-drive strains showed 94-99% biased inheritance of the engineered genetic element and recessive female sterility. In his talk, Amarish will discuss the molecular genetics of the homing gene drives disrupting doublesex gene, as well as its potential and challenges in the D. suzukii population suppression. Related links:

• Yadav, A. K., Butler, C., Yamamoto, A., Patil, A. A., Lloyd, A. L., & Scott, M. J. (2023). CRISPR/Cas9-based split homing gene drive targeting doublesex for population suppression of the global fruit pest Drosophila suzukii. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(25), e2301525120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2301525120. PDF (requires Unity ID)
• Download PowerPoint slide deck

Speaker Bio

Dr. Amarish Yadav is a postdoctoral research scholar in Prof. Max Scott’s laboratory at NC State University, where he has been working on the development of genetic-based pest control methods such as homing gene drives and evaluating safeguards in the agricultural pest spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). His doctoral research at Banaras Hindu University in India was to investigate the genetic and molecular aspects of cancer progression linked to the loss of cell-polarity regulators function in Drosophila melanogaster. During his postdoctoral research at NC State, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, he developed the first split homing gene drive in spotted wing drosophila which targets doublesex, a gene essential for female fly development. In addition, he has generated various transgenics and eye-color mutants to be useful in the D. suzukii genetics research. Amarish is currently assessing the population-suppression potential of gene drive strains at laboratory scale as well as the influence of different genetic backgrounds on the gene drive efficiency in this pest.

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Does High School Genetics Education Communicate an Essentialist Construal of Gender? Brian Donovan, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, BSCS Science Learning

Profile | Website | Related GGA Seminar Evidence suggests that high school biology textbooks in the US may reinforce an essentialist construal of gender.

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5>

Special two-day engagement with the Genetics & Genomics Academy, sponsored by the College of Education and the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership

Abstract

Essentialism is the lay assumption that categories of living things have underlying, unobservable “essences.” When applied to gender, this assumption has a range of negative consequences, including stereotyping and discrimination. In this talk, Dr. Brian Donovan will present evidence from a content analysis and a randomized control trial to suggest that high school biology textbooks in the US communicate an essentialist construal of sex and gender to students and that students grow in their gender essentialist thinking after reading such texts. Dr. Donovan will argue that rather than conveying accurate knowledge about the biological and social complexity of sex and gender, biology education in the US seems to instead promote messages consistent with gender essentialism. Related links:

• Humane Genetics, BCBS Science Learning
• Donovan, B. M., Weindling, M., Lee, D. (2020). From Basic to Humane Genomics Literacy: How Different Types of Genetics Curricula Could Influence Anti-Essentialist Understandings of Race. Science & Education. PDF

Speaker Bio

Brian M. Donovan is a senior research scientist at BSCS Science Learning, which is the oldest science education organization in the United States. He holds a B.A. in biology from Colorado College, a M.A. in teaching from the University of San Francisco, and a M.S. in biology and Ph.D. in science education from Stanford University. His research explores how genetics education interacts with social-cognitive biases to influence how students make sense of complex biological and social phenomena. By translating this research into frameworks that inform curriculum, instruction, and teacher education, Brian hopes to create a generation of researchers, teachers, and curriculum writers who know how to teach about human difference in a more humane manner. Brian’s award-winning educational research (e.g, The 2020 National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) Early Career Research Award, The 2017 & 2022 Research Worth Reading Awards from NARST) has been reported on in the United States (e.g., The New York Times, The Atlantic/Undark, & EdWeek) and abroad (e.g., BBC Radio, The Independent, & The Australian Broadcasting System). Currently, he is the principal investigator of four different NSF-funded research projects that explore the cognitive, social, and educational factors that link the learning of human genetics to reductions in racism, sexism, and deterministic worldviews that limit human potential. Before his research career in science education, Brian taught middle school science for seven years in San Francisco.

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BioNFTs: Verifiable Biosamples & BioData for training Ethical AI Models in Life Sciences

Daniel Uribe, MBA, Co-Founder & CEO at GenoBank.io | @duribeb Discover how BioNFTs are revolutionizing the Life Sciences by providing verifiable biosamples and biodata for training ethical AI models

<h5>Download seminar poster </h5> Abstract

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the convergence of blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is heralding unprecedented opportunities and challenges in Life Sciences. One of the most pressing issues we face is the ethical use of biosamples and biodata in AI model training. This talk introduces the groundbreaking concept of BioNFTs (Biological Non-Fungible Tokens), a solution designed to ensure data provenance, integrity, and ethical compliance. BioNFTs serve as a decentralized verification mechanism, allowing researchers, biobanks, and other stakeholders to authenticate the origins, chain of custody, and consent associated with biosamples and their corresponding biodata. These tokens operate on blockchain technology, providing a tamper-proof, transparent record of interactions.

The utilization of BioNFTs in AI model training fundamentally shifts the paradigm. By ensuring the ethical sourcing and utilization of biosamples and biodata, we can instill trust among the community and participants, thereby accelerating the adoption of AI in life sciences applications ranging from drug discovery to personalized medicine. This is especially critical when the biodata under study are derived from sensitive populations or rare conditions, where misuse or misrepresentation can have significant ethical implications.

Moreover, BioNFTs can be a game-changer for compliance with evolving global regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, offering a novel way to provide proof of data provenance and informed consent. They also pave the way for a new economy, where individuals could monetize their anonymized data by granting time-bound access to researchers via tokenized consent. The talk will delve into real-world applications, potential pitfalls, and the roadmap ahead for integrating BioNFTs into our AI-driven future in life sciences. This concept has already been peer-reviewed by the British Blockchain Association based on the article “Privacy Laws, Genomics Data and NFTs“. Join us as we explore how BioNFTs can be the cornerstone for establishing ethical AI models in Life Sciences.

Resource Links:

• Daniel Uribe (2020) Privacy Laws, Non-Fungible Tokens, and Genomics. Conference: 2nd International Science Conference 2020At: Edinburgh, Scotland, March 2020. Online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341463779_Privacy_Laws_Non-Fungible_Tokens_and_Genomics. PDF
• Demo video: Decentralized Biospecimen governance using BioNFTs™ (by GenoBank.io)

Speaker Bio

Daniel Uribe: With over six years of experience as co-founder and CEO of GenoBank.io, I am passionate about leveraging blockchain and genomics to enable users to establish ownership and control of their genomic datasets using BioNFTs (ERC721). My core competencies include creating and executing the vision, strategy, and business model of GenoBank.io, leading a multidisciplinary team of experts and advisors, and partnering with academic, industry, and government stakeholders to advance the field of personal genomics and data privacy. I have a strong background in data science, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics, as well as certifications in Ethereum Solidity Dapp, eQTL Functional Genetics, and RNA-seq Workshop. I also hold an MBA from IPADE Business School and a certificate in Data: Law, Policy and Regulation from The London School of Economics and Political Science.

My mission is to empower individuals to access, share, and monetize their genomic data in a secure, transparent, and ethical way, while contributing to the scientific and social good. I believe that BioNFTs are the future of personal genomics and data sovereignty, and I am excited to be at the forefront of this innovative and disruptive field.

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Exploring Policy and Regulation of Emerging Biotechnologies For Use In Controlling Pest Populations

Amanda Pierce, Senior Advisor at US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Abstract

The U.S. Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology describes the comprehensive federal regulatory policy for ensuring the safety of biotechnology products with the goal of protecting health and the environment without impeding innovation. Under the framework, EPA, FDA, and USDA aim to cover the full range of plants, animals and microorganisms derived from biotechnology in an integrated and coordinated manner. The Office of Pesticide Programs in EPA is responsible for evaluating and ensuring the safety of novel applications of recent discoveries in genetics, molecular biology and other biological disciplines when applied to real world pest control problems – e.g., genetically engineered animals for pest population control and plant-incorporated protectants. In this colloquium, I will explain EPA’s role in the regulation of biotechnology and discuss the development of policies and regulations for emerging technologies.

Speaker Bio

Amanda Pierce is a Senior Advisor in the Emerging Technologies Branch in the Office of Pesticide Programs at EPA where she focuses on advancing ecological risk assessment and policy initiatives for cutting edge biotechnologies within the United States government and internationally. She received her Ph.D. in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution from Emory University. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, Amanda became a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow at EPA where she applied her population genetics expertise to developing risk assessment frameworks for emerging technologies.

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Should we expect Moore in Genetic Engineering? Moore’s Law, Genetic Engineering and Historical Analogies

Ross Bassett, Professor of History at NC State

Abstract

In 1965 Gordon Moore published a paper with observations on progress in integrated circuits. In the nearly sixty years since, the continued applicability of those observations, now enshrined as Moore’s law, has been the driving force behind the power and ubiquity of electronics in today’s world. Moore’s Law has become the point of reference for any field of science or technology experiencing rapid growth. This presentation looks at Moore’s Law in historical detail, arguing that it is as much or more about capitalism than science or technology. The audience is invited to comment on whether a more nuanced and historically accurate Moore’s Law might be relevant to genetic engineering.

Speaker Bio

Ross Bassett is a professor of history at North Carolina State University, where he teaches courses in the history of technology and the history of capitalism. He was originally trained as an electrical engineer and worked at IBM for 8 years. He later received his PhD in history from Princeton. He is the author of two books: To the Digital Age (a history of the MOS transistor), and The Technological Indian. He is currently working on a history of French engineers and their learning and use of the English language.

GES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will be held in person in the 1911 Building, room 129, and live-streamed via Zoom.

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Understanding the Dynamics of Post-Hurricane Shoreline Protection Decisions Dr. Kiera O'Donnell, Postdoctoral Associate, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University

Googe Scholar | Twitter @ODonnellKiera93 Insights into the complex factors that shape people's perceptions of their environment and their decisions around shoreline protection.

Abstract

Coastal communities around the world face a growing threat from rising sea levels, more severe storms, and droughts. To address these challenges, many have turned to natural and nature-based features (NNBF) as a means of reducing hazard exposure while also providing important environmental and social benefits. Despite their many advantages, however, a significant number of waterfront property owners continue to opt for hardened infrastructure to protect their shorelines. Kiera O'Donnell investigated the aftermath of two hurricanes to gain insight into the dynamics between people and their environment in the context of shoreline protection. While both communities surveyed showed an awareness of the protective properties of NNBF, a majority chose hardened infrastructure as their preferred option. Her study sheds new light on the complex factors that influence decision-making in the face of environmental hazards, and highlights the importance of understanding these dynamics to ensure effective and sustainable solutions.

Speaker Bio

Kiera O'Donnell earned her PhD in 2022 from Northeastern where she worked with Dr. Steven Scyphers and was a member of his Social-Ecological Sustainability lab. Her dissertation research focused on the landscape and social outcomes of Hurricane Irma in the lower Florida Keys and Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle. Kiera holds a BS degree in Oceanography from the University of New England and previously worked at NOAA as a data analyst for sea level and storms.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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Don’t Dumb it Down, and Other Science Writing Tips and Tricks Bethany Brookshire, PhD, Science Journalist

Website | Twitter @Beebrookshire

Abstract

Bethany Brookshire, science journalist and author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, made the transition from scientist to science writer. Along the way, she learned how many assumptions non-scientists make about scientific writing…and how many assumptions scientists make about non-scientific readers. The world of science writing is, in its way, just as much of a specialty as genomics, and Brookshire is here to pull back the curtain on it all.

Related links:

• Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains (also available as audiobook)

Related same-day events:

• 4:30-5:30 PM – Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains, @ Fishbowl Forum, D.H. Hill Library
• 7:00-8:30 PM –  A conversation with Dr. Bethany Brookshire and NCMNS Mammalogist Dr. Mike Cove, WRAL 3D Theater, NC Museum of Natural Science (to be filmed by C-SPAN!)

Speaker Bio

Bethany Brookshire is a freelance science journalist and the author of the December 2022 book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. She is also a host and producer on the podcast Science for the People. She is a former staff writer with Science News magazine and Science News for Students, a digital magazine covering the latest in scientific research for kids ages 9-14. Her freelance writing has appeared in Scientific American, Science News magazine, Science News Explores, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, Slate and other outlets. Bethany has a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She was a 2019-2020 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT.

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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Benefit-cost analysis and alternatives for evaluating biotechnology policy Zachary S. Brown, Associate Professor of Agricultural & Resource Economics, NC State

Website | Twitter @TheKazath A look at the limits of benefit-cost analysis (BCA) in biotechnology governance and discussion of its social utility compared to alternatives.

Abstract

Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) is a ubiquitous method for evaluating policies throughout the US federal and state governments and around the world. It has been used for both normative and descriptive purposes, both prospectively and retrospectively, to assess the economic efficiency of policies. However, there are significant and well-known limitations in the method, especially in its insensitivity to fairness, equity, and justice. With these considerations receiving increasing prominence in political and policy discourses, including those surrounding biotechnology governance, what is the social utility of BCA going forward (compared to alternatives)? In this colloquium, I will quickly review the basic economic theory motivating BCA, summarizing some of my recent research deconstructing the method’s inherent indeterminism. I will then outline different areas of biotechnology policy in the US government where a role for BCA has been – or could be – implicated. I will describe a partial BCA from my own research evaluating the consumer welfare implications of agricultural gene drives, to motivate audience discussion questioning the utility of BCA in biotechnology governance.

Related links:

• Brown, Z. S. (2022). Distributional policy impacts, WTP-WTA disparities, and the Kaldor-Hicks tests in benefit-cost analysis. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 113, 102654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2022.102654. PDF &gt;
• Jones, M. S., Delborne, J. A., Elsensohn, J., Mitchell, P. D., & Brown, Z. S. (2019). Does the US public support using gene drives in agriculture? And what do they want to know? Science Advances, 5(9), eaau8462. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aau8462. PDF &gt;
• Jones, M. S., & Brown, Z. S. (2019). Landscape-level pest control externalities when consumer preferences are non-neutral. In 2019 Annual Meeting, July 21-23, Atlanta, Georgia (No. 290815). Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. PDF &gt;

Speaker Bio

Dr. Zack Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, serves on the Executive Committee of the Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Center, and is also a faculty affiliate of the Center for Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and Policy (CEnREP) at NC State. He teaches classes in environmental and resource economics in NC State’s Economics Graduate Program and also teaches and advises students in the AgBioFEWS graduate fellowship program funded by the National Science Foundation. His research broadly examines questions in the field of bioeconomics, examining interactions between economic agents and biological and ecological systems.

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in 1911 Building Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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<h4>Genes & Society: Decolonizing Human Genetic Research Workshop Series</h4> The Genomic Fire Next Time: Reflections on charting your scientific path Dr. Latifa Jackson, Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Howard University

Website | Twitter @latifajackson Multi-omic data has been used to create narratives about who we are as humans—are they correct or do they tell a very one-sided story? Hosted in collaboration with BAA (Being an Ally in Academics).

Related reading:

• First Person: Latifa Jackson, _American Scientist _

As an assistant professor of pediatrics at Howard University, Latifa Jackson is concerned with public health, but also with evolutionary biology and the genetic signatures of selection that can affect disease outcomes. Jackson is part of an initiative at Howard’s William Montague Cobb Research Laboratory called the 1,000 African-American Genomes Project, which aims to compare samples from different populations of current and ancestral Africans to determine differing allele frequencies.

Genes & Society Workshop Series

While the events over the last several years in the United States have placed an important focus on issues of race, diversity, and systemic inequalities; these issues are long-standing and embedded within institutions, academic disciplines, and the broader scientific community. In response to the most recent examples of these inequalities, NC State has stated that “Diversity is critical to NC State’s mission” and that “New perspectives deepen our understanding, strengthen our community and propel our innovation.” Building upon NC State’s mission statement and past successful race and science events, NC State’s Being an Ally in Academics (BAA) group has collaborated with Genetics and Genomics Academy, the Genetics and Engineering in Society Center (GES), and TriCEM to organize a new two-day workshop series titled, “Genes and Society: Decolonizing Human Genetic Research”. The goal of this series is to explore the current and historical intersections of racism, systemic inequalities, and human genetic research with an emphasis on inviting diverse and historically underrepresented groups as seminar speakers.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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Dominique Brossard, PhD, Professor and Chair in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Website | Twitter @brossardd

In an age of rapid advancements in genetic research and technology, it’s more important than ever to understand the impact of communication on how we perceive, understand, and engage with publics about genetic information.

Related links:

• Brossard, D., & Scheufele, D. A. (2022). The chronic growing pains of communicating science online. Science, 375(6581), 613-614. DOI: 10.1126/science.abo0668. PDF (*Unity ID required)

Speaker Bio

Dr. Dominique Brossard is professor and chair in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an affiliate of the UW-Madison Robert &amp; Jean Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, the UW-Madison Energy Institute, the UW-Madison Global Health Institute, the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and the Morgridge Institute for Research. Her teaching responsibilities include courses in strategic communication theory and research, with a focus on science and risk communication.

Brossard’s research agenda focuses on the intersection between science, media and policy with the Science, Media and the Public (SCIMEP) research group, which she co-directs. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the International Communication Association, Brossard is an internationally known expert in public opinion dynamics related to controversial scientific issues. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of values in shaping public attitudes and using cross-cultural analysis to understand these processes. She has published more than 100 research articles in outlets such as Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science Communication, Public Understanding of Science, the International Journal of Public Opinion, and _Communication Research _and has been an expert panelist for the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) on various occasions. She currently serves on the NASEM Climate Communication Initiative Advisory Committee as well as on the Executive Committee of the Societal Experts Action Network (SEAN), which aims at facilitating rapid and actionable responses to social, behavioral, and economic-related COVID-19 questions. Brossard is a member of the Board on Life Sciences of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She is also on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences and she is the Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences at the National Science Foundation.

Brossard has a varied professional background that includes experience in the lab and the corporate world. Notably, she spent five years at Accenture in its Change Management Services Division. She was also the communication coordinator for the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII), a position that combined public relations with marketing communication and strategic communication. Her family worked dairy farms for many generations.

Brossard earned her M.S. in plant biotechnology from the Ecole Nationale d’Agronomie de Toulouse and her M.P.S and Ph.D. in communication from Cornell University. You can find a list of her publications on Google Scholar.

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

GE Foods Regulation - The U.S. Way Fernanda Santos, PhD, Teaching Assistant Professor, Food Science, NC State University

Website | Twitter @fbnsncstate

Abstract

"The definition of food law used to be a simple one – it encompassed food regulatory law with two main audiences: lawyers and the regulated food industries. Today, however, food law is often broadened in meaning to include all law related to agricultural trade, such as how food is grown, humane animal treatment, and environmental rules for farms and processors." (From Food Regulation by Neal Fortin)

The development of genetically engineered foods created an even greater (and heated) discussion linked to several complex issues, especially safety in terms of consumption and the understanding of their impact on the environment. So, the question is: "How should these foods be regulated?" The United States takes a more relaxed approach compared to the strict rules of the European Union. Despite the differences, the final goal is the same: ensuring that foods entering the markets are safe for consumption. This presentation will summarize the main characteristics of the regulation of genetically engineered foods in the United States. Related links:

• Fortin, N. Food Regulation: Law, Science, Policy, and Practice. Wiley, 2nd. ed., 2022.
• Roberts, M.T. Food Law in the United States. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
• Strauss, S., Sax, J. Ending event-based regulation of GMO crops. Nature Biotechnology, 34, 474–477 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3541
• BE Disclosure | USDA
• Biotechnology | USDA
• How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States | FDA
• Movement of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms – Final Rule | Federal Register
• “Natural” Modifications: The FDA’s Need to Promulgate an Official Definition of “Natural” that Includes Genetically Modified Organisms | The George Washington Law Review
• Regulation of Biotech Plants | USDA
• Revised Regulations (previously SECURE Rule) | USDA
• Same Science, Different Policies: Regulating Genetically Modified Foods in the U.S. and Europe | Harvard University
• What’s the Right Way to Regulate Gene-Edited Crops? | Leaps.org

Speaker Bio

Dr. Fernanda Santos is a veterinarian, poultry scientist, and food safety specialist. During her veterinary training, her primary focus was zoonotic diseases and disease prevention. Then, she focused her work on pathogen growth in foods of animal origin, quality control programs, and molecular tools. She has also studied alternative methods and nutritional strategies to improve performance and reduce Salmonella intestinal colonization in poultry. Currently, at NC State, her focus is food safety and course development. She is responsible for the graduate food safety minor and teaching several courses in the food science program, including food laws and regulations and food product development. She has also created a new series of courses, “The Discover Series”, which are food science-related courses that are taught not only to food science/nutrition students but also to any undergraduate student who seeks to understand the science behind foods and controversial topics of food and nutrition.

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Panel: The Challenges, Successes, and Sustainability of NSF National Research Traineeships (NRTs) on Food, Energy, and Water Systems (FEWS) Panelists:

• Karletta Chief, PhD, Director, Indigenous Resilience Center; Professor & Extension Specialist, Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona
• Amy R. Sapkota, PhD, Professor, School of Public Health, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health
• Yael Perez, PhD, Development Engineering Program Director at the Blum Center and the InFEWS Program Coordinator

Joining us from three different NSF research traineeships on food, energy, and water systems (FEWS), our panelists will share each programs’ challenges, opportunities, and sustainability.

Abstract

The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program seeks to explore ways for graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas, through a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. Join us as the GES Center hosts a panel to learn about three NRT programs focused on Food, Energy and Water Systems (FEWS). Now that the programs have finished and/or are close to finishing, what future lies for their continuation? What lessons have they learned about implementing an interdisciplinary and convergent research program? We will discuss each programs’ challenges, opportunities, and sustainability with the traineeship. Our speakers include: Dr. Karletta Chief with Indige-FEWSS (Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty) at the University of Arizona, Dr. Amy Sapkota with the Global STEWARDS (STEM Training at the Nexus of Energy, WAter Reuse and FooD Systems) program at the University of Maryland, and Dr. Yael Perez with InFEWS (Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems) at the Blum Center for Developing Economies at the University of California Berkeley. Related links:

• Indige-FEWSS
• UMD Global STEWARDS
• InFEWS
• NSF Program abstracts and resulting publications: – Indige-FEWSS: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1735173 – UMD Global STEWARDS: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1828910 – InFEWS: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1633740

Panelist Bios

Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné) is a Professor and Extension Specialist in Environmental Science at the University of Arizona. Dr. Chief works to bring relevant water science to Native American communities in a culturally sensitive manner. As Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center, she aims to facilitate efforts of UArizona climate/environment researchers, faculty, staff, and students working with Native Nations to build resiliency to climate impacts and environmental challenges. Two of her primary tribal projects are The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Climate Adaptation and Traditional Knowledge Project and Gold King Mine Spill Diné Exposure Project. Dr. Chief also leads the NSF Indigenous Food, Energy, and Water Security and Sovereignty Program and is training 38 graduate students. Indige-FEWSS’s vision is to develop a diverse workforce with intercultural awareness and expertise in sustainable food, energy, and water systems (FEWS), specifically through off grid technologies to address the lack of safe water, energy, and food security in Indigenous communities.

Dr. Amy Sapkota is an MPower Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She is the Interim Director of the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health and the Director of CONSERVE: A Center of Excellence at the Nexus of Sustainable Water Reuse, Food & Health that was launched with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture in 2016. She is also the Principal Investigator of a doctoral training program, UMD Global STEWARDS (STEM Training at the Nexus of Energy, WAter Reuse and FooD Systems)—funded by the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) program—that is preparing a cadre of future leaders focused on innovations at the nexus of food, energy and water systems. Dr. Sapkota’s research interests lie in the areas of environmental microbiology, environmental microbial genomics and exposure assessment. Her projects evaluate the complex relationships between environmental microbial exposures and human infectious diseases, with a special focus on assessing the public health impacts associated with water reuse.

Dr.  Yael Perez is the Development Engineering (DevEng) Program Director at UC Berkeley’s Blum Center for Developing Economies, managing the DevEng Masters and the DevEng PhD Designated Emphasis. Yael holds a PhD in Architecture from UC Berkeley with a scholarship on co-design methodologies and technologies to support and empower communities and design practitioners in fostering sustainable development. For over a decade, she has been collaboratively leading CARES—Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and Sustainability—a team of UC Berkeley faculty and students working with Native American Citizens in their pursuit of sustainable development. Recently, this initiative grew into the Native FEWS Alliance, a cross-institutional collaboration working to significantly broaden the participation of Native American students in Food, Energy, and Water Systems (FEWS) education and careers to address critical challenges facing their communities. Before joining the Blum Center, Yael was a visiting scholar at IIT Mandi (India).

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates.

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Food sciences, technology, and globally sustainable food systems Dr. Jonathan Allen and Rebekah Brown, Food Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, NC State University

Website | Twitter @fbnsncstate Where the food science and nutrition communities have come and may be going in defining sustainable food systems with examples from research in the NC State Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Department.

Abstract

Achieving sustainable food systems has been a growing agenda item among scientists, food and nutrition associations, and the food industry. Examples of goals and actions for some of these groups can be contrasted with the projects that individual scientists try to wedge into the sustainability umbrella. Similar examples from past NC State food and nutrition research will show that trends in research funding for specific projects to meet industry needs can now be rewritten to show progress toward a sustainable food system, even when that might not have been the original intent of the research. The research interests of international and domestic students and the groups that provide their funding also create an interesting contrast in this field. Additional progress can be made as we address the teaching and research of our current students to create the future scientists who will evolve the understanding of a sustainable food system. Additionally, Ms. Brown will be reporting briefly on the National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group meeting as it pertains to her research and food science study. The National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group is comprised of stakeholders across industry, academia, and government which meets annually to discuss emerging research. The fields of study present at the meetings include, but are not limited to plant physiology, plant breeding, molecular biology, pathology, entomology, cultural practices, food science, and marketing. The objective of the meeting is the rapid dissemination of information to improve the growth of sweetpotatoes and sweetpotato products in the United States for the benefit of the multiple stakeholders. Ms. Brown’s research involved a preliminary consumer survey of health, purchasing habits and acceptance/awareness of biotech in the sweetpotato sector. Related links:

• National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group

Speaker Bios

Dr. Jonathan Allen is a professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Science at North Carolina State University and Director of the Food Science Graduate Program. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in milk and dairy products, lactation, exercise nutrition, and energy metabolism. His research projects cover glycemic control as impacted by food processing and bioactive components in foods such as sweet potato, peanuts and milk, nutrient fortification of flour, and processing strategies. Allen has gained an international reputation for the understanding and potential amelioration of such chronic diseases as infant growth retardation, metabolic bone disease, diabetes, and hypertension. He has trained students who hold food industry, government, academic, and NGO positions in more than a dozen countries. A Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, and the Institute of Food Technologists, Dr. Allen has been active in the IFT Dairy Foods Division and new Sustainability Division with technical research paper reviews and graduate student competitions, and was on the IFT Dietary Guidelines for Americans Task Force. He is a member of the Climate/environment, Health, Agriculture and Improved Nutrition (CHAIN) Research Interest Group of the American Society for Nutrition.

Rebekah Brown is a Cohort 3 AgBioFEWS fellow and PhD candidate in the Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences Department at North Carolina State University. Some of her research involves stakeholder engagement regarding the use or acceptance of biotechnology in sweetpotatoes and sweetpotato products as well as the health and sustainability of different processing techniques.

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building Room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates .

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

Nonhuman Animals Containing Human Cells: Ethics and Oversight Karen Maschke, PhD, Research Scholar at The Hastings Center

Website | Twitter @hastingscenter This presentation focuses on ethical and oversight issues as they relate to the insertion of human cells into nonhuman animals, e.g., “chimeric research.”

Abstract

Research involving the insertion of human cells into nonhuman animals at various stage of development – referred to here as chimeric research – has helped scientists learn how human cells behave in a living environment. Advances in human stem cell science and gene editing are enabling scientists to more extensively and precisely insert human cells into nonhuman animals at any stage of development. Scientists have conducted in vitro experiments with chimeric embryos and in vivo studies that create chimeric animals. The goals of these studies include developing more accurate models of human diseases, creating inexpensive sources of human eggs and embryos for research, and developing sources of tissues and organs suitable for transplantation into humans. Yet concerns have been raised that by biologically altering nonhuman animals with human cells – particularly at an early stage of the chimeric animal’s development – scientists may end up changing them in morally relevant ways, especially if the chimeric animals exhibit “humanlike” behaviors or capacities that they previously lacked. An NIH-funded interdisciplinary research project of The Hastings Center and Case Western Reserve University examined the ethical, oversight, and policy issues regarding research that involves the transfer of human embryonic or induced pluripotent cells, or cells derived directly from them, into nonhuman animals or nonhuman animal embryos. This presentation highlights three of the project’s recommendations:

1. scientists, journalists, bioethicists and others writing about chimeric research should use precise and accessible language that clarifies rather than obscures the ethical issues at stake;
2. animal welfare is a primary ethical issue and should be a focus of ethical and policy analysis as well as the governance of oversight of chimeric research; and
3. enhanced communication between institutional committees involved in oversight of chimeric research is needed, as well as a mechanism for a national discussion amongst those in oversight of these studies.

Related links:

• Clarifying the Ethics and Oversight of Chimeric Research, Josephine Johnston, Insoo Hyun, Carolyn P. Neuhaus, Karen J. Maschke, et. al., 2022
• Composite Animals: Then and Now, Amy Hinterberger, 2022
• Human, Nonhuman, and Chimeric Research: Considering Old Issues with New Research, Jeff Sebo, Brendan Parent, 2022
• Threats to Benefits: Assessing Knowledge Production in Nonhuman Models of Human Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Carolyn P. Neuhaus, 2022
• Moral Status and the Oversight of Research Involving Chimeric Animals, Patricia Marshall, Kaitlynn P. Craig, Insoo Hyun, 2022
• A Conversation with Chimeric Animal Researchers, Kaitlynn P. Craig, 2022
• How Chimeric Animal Research Impacts Animal Welfare: A Conversation with Animal Welfare Experts, Kaitlynn P. Craig, 2022

Speaker Bio

Karen J. Maschke, PhD is a Research Scholar at The Hastings Center and the editor of the Center’s journal, Ethics &amp; Human Research. As a researcher with training in political science and bioethics, she focuses on policy and ethical issues related to the introduction, use, regulation, and oversight of new biomedical technologies. She recently completed two projects: the NIH-funded project, “Actionable Ethics Oversight for Human-Animal Chimera Research” (co-Principal Investigator) and the NSF-funded project, “Public Deliberation on Gene Editing in the Wild” (co-Investigator). She is currently the lead co-Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded project, “Informing Ethical Translation of Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials.” She is interviewed frequently by the media, appearing in AP, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, Washington Post, Kaiser Health, STAT News, Reuters, and Bloomberg Law. Her recent book (co-authored with Michael K. Gusmano), is Debating Modern Medical Technologies: The Politics of Safety, Effectiveness, and Patient Access (Praeger, 2018).

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates .

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co

4S 2022 Cholula: Reunion, recuperation, reconfiguration. Knowledge and technosciences for living together Sebastián Zarate and Jill Furgurson, AgBioFEWS PhD Fellows, NC State University

The 2022 Annual 4S conference brought together researchers and practitioners to explore science, technology and innovation across different cultural, economic and social settings.

Abstract

The 4S Meeting is an annual conference organized by the Society of Social Studies of Sciences (4S). Science and Technology Studies (STS) is an academic field of research that focuses on the relationships between science, society, technology and innovation across different cultural, economic and social settings. 4S 2022 was held in Cholula, Mexico and was the second joint meeting with ESOCITE (The Latin American Science and Technology Studies Association). The conference was trilingual (Spanish, Portuguese and English) as part of the goal to diversify STS to other regions in the world such as Latin America. As AgBioFEWS scholars, we focused our attention on topics related to genetic engineering, governance of emerging technologies, agriculture, conservation and participatory methods. Overall, it was an enriching experience that increased our knowledge of STS methods and theories and expanded our professional networks.

Related links:

• Society for Social Studies of Science 2022 Meeting

Speaker Bios

Sebastián Zarate is a PhD student at NC State’s Forestry and Environmental Resources Department. Sebastián comes from Peru with a background in social sciences. He graduated from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru with a B.A in Sociology and has a master’s in Science and Technology Policy from Arizona State University. He has worked in GRADE (Grupo de Analisis para el Desarrollo) a Peruvian Think Tank that focuses on public policy and co-founded Sidereus Nuncius, a nonprofit that is involved in the governance of science and technology in Peru. He is part of the AgBioFEWS Fellowship at NC State. He is interested in science and technology policy in Latin America, sustainability, emerging technologies, natural resources, and the environment. Jill Furgurson is a first year PhD student in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State. Her current research explores how broader stakeholder engagement can support more inclusive decision making around the evaluation of new environmental biotechnologies, such as the genetically engineered (GE) American Chestnut tree. In particular, how can the exchange of different kinds of knowledge, especially Indigenous knowledge, support more trusted and just decisions? She holds an M.S. in Forestry and Environmental Resources, where she conducted research pertaining to the sustainable use of natural resources used in Cherokee art forms. Her research for her M.A. in Geography assessed the impact of various social, spatial, and environmental risk factors on disease incidence.

GES Colloquium (GES 591-002) is jointly taught by Drs. Jen Baltzegar and Dawn Rodriguez-Ward, who you may contact with any class-specific questions. Colloquium will generally be live-streamed via Zoom, with monthly in-person meetings in the 1911 Building, room 129. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and Twitter for updates .

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

GES Colloquium - Tuesdays 12-1PM (via Zoom) NC State University | http://go.ncsu.edu/ges-colloquium GES Mediasite - See videos, full abstracts, speaker bios, and slides https://go.ncsu.edu/ges-mediasite Twitter - https://twitter.com/GESCenterNCSU

GES Center - Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

Find out more at https://ges-center-lectures-ncsu.pinecast.co