GES Co-Directors Gould and Kuzma Quoted in Audubon Story on Using Gene Drives to Save Island Birds
A new story in Audubon Magazine, How Genetically Modified Mice Could One Day Save Island Birds, features quotes from GES Co-Directors Dr. Fred Gould and Dr. Jennifer Kuzma.
The article tells the story of how Dr. John Godwin, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, and Ph.D. student Megan Serr became part of GBIRd (Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents), a global partnership working to save island birds from extinction by using the cutting-edge (and controversial) CRISPR and gene drive technologies to eradicate invasive species of mice.
Overcoming Challenges to Infusing Ethics into the Development of Engineers: Proceedings of a Workshop (2017)
While all technologies have societal and ethical implications, emerging technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence and genetic engineering) often pose unique ethical challenges. As advances are made in the fields of engineering, it is vital that issues…
Synthetic Microorganisms for Agricultural Use
By 2050, the world’s population is estimated to exceed 9 billion people. A challenge to this rising food demand is that crops will have to be grown on the same or less land as today. Additionally, global climate change is causing considerable uncertainty in the ability of the current food production system to adapt to an unknown future.
To address these issues sustainably, scientists from many disciplines have been investigating ways to increase crop yields and prepare for a changing climate. Considerable effort has focused on enhancing the traits of the crop plants themselves, to enhance their growth, make them resistant to disease, or tolerant to environmental stressors like drought or high salinity conditions. Conversely, a growing area of research is looking at how microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, influence these plant characteristics.
Todd Kuiken BioCoder article on Citizen Health Innovators now available in print
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Many would argue that their greatest necessity is health. So what happens when treatments are ineffective or unavailable? Today, in the age of crowdfunding, some people…
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Jennifer Kuzma quoted in Slate on biotech regulatory issues
Biotechnology is moving at lightening speed, especially with the advances in genetic engineering and synthetic biology. However, policies and regulations lag far behind, leaving potentially dangerous gaps in classification and oversight. Dr. Jennifer Kuzma, GES…
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Zack Brown publishes article in Choices on the ‘Economic, Regulatory and International Implications of Gene Drives in Agriculture”
Agricultural pests, such as fruit flies and mosquitoes, cause billions of dollars in crops losses and spread life-threatening diseases, including malaria and Zika. Many researchers, including NC State IGERT students, are working to develop gene…
Todd Kuiken publishes Slate article discussing concerns with DARPA’s SynBio Initiatives
GES Research Scholar Dr. Todd Kuiken has concerns about DARPA, who’s investments are “bending the entire field of synthetic biology towards military applications.” Will DARPA’s initiatives lead to the militarization of the natural environment?
Todd Kuiken quoted in Atlantic article on failure of glowing plant kickstarter
Remember the Kickstarter campaign that raised half a million dollars to fund the invention of glowing houseplants? Todd Kuiken, GES research scholar and synthetic biology expert, weighs in on the recent announcement of the project’s failure…
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Jennifer Kuzma publishes Trails and Trials in Biotechnology Policy
Reflecting on her journey from undergrad at a small liberal arts college to scientist, professor and world-renowned expert on governance for emerging biotechnologies, Jennifer Kuzma has published a chapter in Women in Sustainable Agriculture and…
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Jennifer Kuzma was appointed as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Council on The Future of Technology, Values, and Policy.
The council consists of thought leaders from business, government, civil society and academia and will focus on how values for the global public interest can be embedded in technological systems and how agile governance mechanisms…