SYNENERGENE - Synthetic Biology Engaging with New and Emerging Science and Technology in Responsible Governance of the Science and Society Relationship

  • Project team:

    Coenen, Christopher (Project leader); Steffen Albrecht; Daniel Frank; Reinhard Heil; Harald König; Rüdiger Trojok; Silvia Woll

  • Funding: European Commission
  • Start date: 2013
  • End date: 2017
  • Project partners: Austrian Academy of Science (Vienna, Austria); University of Bristol (United Kingdom); University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne (France); Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands); University of Southern Denmark (Odense, Denmark); Rathenau Institute (The Hague, The Netherlands); University of Padua (Italy); University Hospital Freiburg (Germany); Biofaction KG (Vienna, Austria); Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Washington, DC, USA); VU University Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Zebralog GmbH & Co. KG (Berlin, Germany); Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (Switzerland); Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany); LIS Consult (Driebergen, The Netherlands); Utrecht University (The Netherlands); Finnish Bioart Society (Helsinki, Finland); The European Network of Science Centres and Museums (Brussels, Belgium); Geneart AG (Regensburg, Germany); European Union of Science Journalists' Association (Strasbourg, France); University of Ljubljana (Slovenia); What Next Forum (Uppsala, Sweden); Theatre Freiburg (Germany); Gene Rowe Evaluations (Norwich, United Kingdom); University of Bergen (Norway); etc Group (Ottawa, Canada)
  • Research group:

    Life, Innovation, Health, and Technology

Project description

Responsible research and innovation (RRI) entails challenges for politics and society. How can we better align innovations in science and technology with the values, needs and expectations of society? How can we engage the various societal actors in the co-construction of innovative solutions, products and services? These questions frame the European Commission's "Science in Society" (SiS) Action Plan and with regard to synthetic biology are tackled in a variety of ways in the SYNENERGENE project.

Synthetic biology is a multidisciplinary field of science and technology in which scientists from disciplines such as molecular biology, nanobiotechnology, organic chemistry, engineering and computer science work together to design novel biological systems. Although such systems offer potential for applications in energy, new materials and pharmaceutics, they also give rise to a number of challenges, including potential environmental and socio-economic risks. Public awareness of synthetic biology is still low, however, and the precise contours of the field are not yet clear even to scientists working in it.

In this early development phase of synthetic biology, the aim of the SYNENERGENE project is to initiate various activities with a view to stimulating and fostering debate on the opportunities and risks of this technology. Coordinated by ITAS, more than 25 networks and institutions from Europe and the Americas have joined forces to draw up a "Mobilization and Mutual Learning Action Plan" (MMLAP). Among other things, they will monitor developments in synthetic biology, identify critical aspects, experiment with diverse participation formats – from citizen consultations and theatrical debates – and engage stakeholders from science, art, industry, politics, civil society and other fields in the debate about synthetic biology. As well as coordinating the initiative, ITAS has also been tasked with leading the SYNENERGENE platform on "Research and Policy", the aim of which is to identify demands and strategies for the political regulation of synthetic biology.

The SYNENERGENE project is keen to foster public discourse on synthetic biology while at the same time developing sustainable agendas in the fields of policy, research and participation. It will contribute to responsible research and innovation in synthetic biology and beyond.

This project forms part of ITAS's activities in the field of synthetic biology (SynBio). The project website can be found here.

Publications


2020
Book Chapters
Şahinol, M.; Coenen, C.; Motika, R.
Einleitung
2020. Upgrades der Natur, künftige Körper. Hrsg.: M. Şahinol, V-XVII, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 
Presentations
Coenen, C.
Remarks on the Politics of Citizen Bioscience
2020. STARBIOS2 final event "Responsible Research in Biosciences: Challenges for Mainstreaming" (2020), Online, May 29, 2020 
2019
Presentations
Coenen, C.
Technocitizenscience
2019. Think Camp CitizenScience@Helmholtz (2019), Berlin, Germany, March 25–26, 2019 
2018
Journal Articles
2017
Presentations
Coenen, C.
Was heißt und zu welchem Ende betreiben wir Technikfolgenabschätzung?
2017. Veranstaltung der Kritischen Naturwissenschaftler*innen, Universität Leipzig, 29.Mai 2017 
Coenen, C.
Dialog und Philosophie in ’Human Practices’
2017. Synthetic Biology Meet Up, Düsseldorf, Deutschland, 5.Oktober 2017 
König, H.
When synbio met society - Some lessons learned
2017. European Summit of Industrial Biotechnology (esib) (2017), Graz, Austria, November 14–16, 2017 
König, H.
When synbio meets society - some lessons learned
2017. European Summit of Industrial Biotechnology (ESIB), Graz, A, November 14-16, 2017 
König, H.
Technologie::Leben - Neue Chancen, neue Herausforderungen
2017. Deutsche Biotechnologietage 2017, Hannover, 5.-6.April 2017 
2016
Book Chapters
Betz, G.
Accounting for possibilities in decision making
2016. The Argumentative Turn in Policy Analysis : Reasoning about Uncertainty. Ed.: S.O. Hansson, 135–169, Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30549-3_6
Coenen, C.
Facetten einer Leistungssteigerungsgesellschaft?
2016. Gendoping : Herausforderung für Sport und Gesellschaft. Hrsg.: S. Körner, 63–82, Springer Spektrum. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-12450-2_5
Grunwald, A.
Synthetic biology: Seeking for orientation in the absence of valid prospective knowledge and of common values
2016. The Argumentative Turn in Policy Analysis : Reasoning about Uncertainty. Ed.: S.O. Hansson, 325–344, Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30549-3_14
König, H.; Frank, D.; Heil, R.; Coenen, C.
Synthetic biology’s multiple dimensions of benefits and risks: implications for governance and policies
2016. Synthetic Biology : Metaphors, Worldviews, Ethics, and Law. Ed.: J. Boldt, 217–232, VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. doi:10.1007/978-3-658-10988-2_14
Seitz, S. B.
Let’s talk about... synthetic biology - emerging technologies and the public
2016. Ambivalences of Creating Life : Societal and Philosophical Dimensions of Synthetic Biology. Ed.: K. Hagen, 157–175, Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21088-9_8
Presentations
Albrecht, S.
Synthetic biology - the next phase of biotechnology and genetic engineering
2016. UFZ Energy Days 2016, Leipzig, March 22-23, 2016 
Bolz, K.; König, H.
Responsible innovation as a moderator of entrepreneurship - Learnings from the debate on advanced biotechnology
2016. The Co-Production of Emerging Bodies, Politics and Technologies : 8th Annual S.Net Meeting, Bergen, N, October 12-14, 2016 
2015
Book Chapters
Albrecht, S.
"Responsible Research" implementieren. Zur praktischen Umsetzung von RRI am Beispiel des Projekts "Synergene" zur Synthetischen Biologie
2015. Responsible Innovation : Neue Impulse für die Technikfolgenabschätzung? Hrsg.: A. Bogner, 357–368, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft 
Albrecht, S.; Coenen, C.; König, H.
Enriching the methodological scope of technology assessment. Initial insights from SYNENERGENE, the mobilisation and mutual learning action plan on synthetic biology
2015. The next horizon of technology assessment : Proceedings from the PACITA 2015 Conference in Berlin. Ed.: C. Scherz, 151–156, Technology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (ASCR) 
Frank, D.
Vom Handwerkszeug der Gentechnik und der synthetischen Biologie
2015. Leben konstruieren? : Deutungsmuster Synthetischer Biologie München. Hrsg.: Tobias Graßmann und Stefanie Herresthal, 8–28, Institut Technik Theologie Naturwissenschaften 
Trojok, R.
Biohacking als emanzipierte Citizen Science
2015. Kießling, S. [Hrsg.] Evolution in Menschenhand : Synthetische Biologie aus Labor und Atelier Freiburg : Herder, 2015, 115–124 
Presentations
Coenen, C.; Albrecht, S.; König, H.
Making sense of RRI in the SYNENERGENE project
2015. 2nd European TA Conference, Berlin, February 25-27, 2015 
Coenen, C.
Facetten einer Leistungssteigerungsgesellschaft?
2015. Fachsymposium "Gendoping - Herausforderung für Sport und Gesellschaft?" (2015), Cologne, Germany, June 24–26, 2015 
Coenen, C.
"Mechanical Man" and the future of humanity
2015. Workshop “Technological enhancementlegalethical issues”, European Centre for Law, ScienceNew Technologies (2015), Pavia, Italy, October 1–2, 2015 
Trojok, R.
Bio-Hacking - Überlegungen zu den Bedingungen einer gerichteten Evolution
2015. Symposiums “Evolution in Menschenhand? Synthetische Biologie aus Labor und Atelier” (2015), Berlin, Germany, March 13, 2015 
Trojok, R.
Digital biology
2015. Biofilia, Helsinki, SF, January 24-31, 2015 
Trojok, R.
Digital biology
2015. Design of Microfluidic Biochips: Connecting Algorithms and Foundations of Chip Design to Biochemistry and the Life Sciences : Dagstuhl Seminar, Wadern, August 23-26, 2015 
Trojok, R.
Biohacking and the global Hackteria Network
2015. Maker Faire 2015, Berlin, 3.-4.Oktober 2015 
Trojok, R.
Biocommons and EU initiatives
2015. OpenTechSummit 2015, Berlin, 14.Mai 2015 
Trojok, R.
Biocommons
2015. Performing Encounters - Zwei Salons an der Schnittstelle von Kunst und Wissenschaft, Berlin, 5.März 2015 
Trojok, R.
Biocommons
2015. Lost in Transition? : OuiShare Fest 2015, Paris, F, May 20-22, 2015 
Trojok, R.
Biocommons
2015. Idiotie + Widerstand : Der Herbstsalon, Berlin, 11.November 2015 
Trojok, R.
Bio-Hacking und die globale DIYbio Szene - Eine Einführung
2015. IT DEFENSE 2015, Heilbronn, 2.-6.Februar 2015 
Trojok, R.
Bio-commons
2015. Biocomons Lab @ Commons Camp, Rural Hub, Calvanico, I, July 4-9, 2015 
2014
Journal Articles
Heil, R.
Transhuman postsingular - Interview
2014. IF Magazin für angewandte Fantastik, (1), 64–67 
Presentations
Albrecht, S.
Stakeholder involvement in synthetic biology. Mobilisation and mutual learning to foster responsible research and innovation
2014. International Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges Presented by Synthetic Biology, Warszawa, PL, November 25, 2014 
Albrecht, S.
Responsible Research implementieren - Zur Umsetzung von RRI am Beispiel eines Projekts zur Synthetischen Biologie
2014. 6. Konferenz des Netzwerks Technikfolgenabschätzung (NTA) und 14. Technikfolgenabschätzung (TA) Jahreskonferenz des Instituts für Technikfolgen- Abschätzung, Wien, A, 2.-4. Juni 2014 
Coenen, C.
Cyborgism and the transhumanist vision
2014. Better Technologies with no Regret? : S.NET 6th Annual Meeting, Karlsruhe, September 21-24, 2014 
Coenen, C.
Critical theory, transhumanism and the technoscientific sublime
2014. 7th International Critical Theory Conference of Rome, Roma, I, May 8-10, 2014 
Coenen, C.
Die bunte Welt der neuen Biotechnologie. Synthetische Biologie und wissenschaftskultureller Wandel
2014. Tagung ’Vom Homo faber zum Homo creator? Bionik und synthetische Biologie’, Bad Herrenalb, 31. Januar - 2. Februar 2014 
Coenen, C.; Velloso, G.
Relevanz der Neurotechnologien und der Enhancement-Aspekt
2014. Workshop ’Enhancement durch neurotechnologische Verfahren? Chancen, Risiken, Visionen’, Mainz, 6.-7. Oktober 2014 
Coenen, C.
Synthetic biology and the public
2014, November 24. Biology feat. Engineering - Symposium der International Autumn School on Synthetic Biology (2014), Marburg, Germany, November 24–25, 2014 
Coenen, C.
Synenergene: The European synthetic biology RRI initiative
2014. Science Art Film Festival (BIO FICTION 2014), Vienna, Austria, October 23–25, 2014 
Coenen, C.; König, H.
SYNENERGENE - Responsible research and innovation in synthetic biology
2014. Workshop on Research Agendas in the Societal Aspects of Synthetic Biology an der Arizona State University (2014), Tempe, AZ, USA, November 4–6, 2014 
Frank, D.
Technikfolgenabschätzung gesundheitsorientierter Anwendungen der synthetischen Biologie
2014. Jahrestagung der Akademie für Ethik in der Medizin (AEM) ’Technisierung der Medizin als ethische Herausforderung’, Ulm, 9.-11. Oktober 2014 
Grunwald, A.
Technikfolgen von Biotechnologien - ändern sich unsere Vorstellungen vom Leben?
2014. Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL) Symposium, Berlin, 5.-6. November 2014 
Heil, R.
Leben im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit
2014. Ringvorlesung Interface, Windisch, CH, 7. April 2014 
Seitz, S. B.
Let’s talk about ... Synthetic biology - emerging technology and the public
2014. International Summer School der Europäischen Akademie Bad-Neuenahr “Analyzing the Societal Dimensions of Synthetic Biology” (2014), Berlin, Germany, September 15–19, 2014 
Trojik, R.
Biostrike
2014. LTMKS Project Space, Vilnius, LT, October 6, 2014 
Trojik, R.
Biostrike
2014. Science Art Film Festival, International Synthetic Biology Festival ’Bio Fiction’, Wien, A, October 23-25, 2014 
Trojok, R.
Biostrike
2014. Better Technologies with no Regret? : S.NET 6th Annual Meeting, Karlsruhe, September 21-24, 2014 
Trojok, R.
Biohacking
2014. Das Zukunftscamp 2014 - Die ersten Cyborgs - Erschaffen wir den ’neuen’ Menschen?, Veranstaltung der Zeit-Stiftung, Hamburg 11.Oktober 2014 
Trojok, R.
Biocommons
2014. Seminar ’Biocommons’, Camp Pixelache, Helsinki, SF, June 6-8, 2014 
Trojok, R.
Biocommons
2014. Science Art Film Festival, International Synthetic Biology Festival ’Bio Fiction’, Wien, A, October 23-25, 2014 
2013
Journal Articles
Presentations
Coenen, C.
The empire to end all empires: Towards a postcolonial genealogy of the transhuman
2013. 5th Beyond Humanism Conference, Roma, I, September 11-14, 2013 
Coenen, C.
Nanoethics in technology assessment activities
2013. Vortr.: Universität Basel, Basel, CH, 10. April 2013, Veranstaltung, Universität Basel, Institut für Bio- und Medizinethik (2013), Basel, Switzerland, April 10, 2013 
Coenen, C.
Der mechanische Mensch
2013. Vortr.: Veranstaltungsreihe der Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Berlin, 17. Oktober 2013 
Coenen, C.
Transhumanism as a challenge and opportunity for policy advice on new technologies
2013. Bridging the Gaps Workshop ’Varieties of Posthumanism: Policy as Practice and Performance’, Exeter, GB, March 6, 2013 

Contact

Dipl.-Pol. Christopher Coenen
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)
P.O. Box 3640
76021 Karlsruhe
Germany

Tel.: +49 721 608-24559
E-mail