Through the 3-day event, participants were able to map policies and create solutions on Biodiversity and Biosecurity through the Global Policies Hackathon, established positions and connected with biodiversity youth organizations in the Biodiversity Youth Forum and communicated and defended their ideas with other synbio enthusiasts in the Synbio Debates.

Global Policies Hackathon - Sep 23rd-25th

Map the policies around Biodiversity and Biosecurity and identify problems in your community or country, and create solution proposals based on the mapped policies. The Global Policies Hackathon was held in collaboration with the biosecurity organization IBBIS and the participation of youth biodiversity organizations.

Biodiversity Youth Forum - Sep 24th

Synthetic biology can be used to maintain global biodiversity. However, some community sectors perceive its use in agriculture as problematic. During the Biodiversity Youth Forum, paticipants had the opportunity to network with representatives of different youth organizations making efforts on biodiversity; they also joined the discussions on the scientific and social aspects surrounding the topic and ultimately participated in a position of iGEMers about biodiversity.

SynBio Debates - Sep 23rd-24th

We challenged participants to debate on the most controversial topics in synthetic Biology. They unpacked their best verses, gathered their brainstorm powers and sharpened their minds to confront equally-bright teams in a series of epic debates on important topics that concern ethics, policy and synthetic biology.


Meet The Winners


Talks & Speakers

Safeguarding Modern Bioscience and Biotechnology: The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS)

The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) ↗ is a new international entity that focuses on reducing biological risks associated with advances in technology. IBBIS will work collaboratively with global partners to strengthen biosecurity norms and develop innovative tools to uphold them. IBBIS will undertake this work to safeguard science and reduce the risk of catastrophic events that could result from deliberate abuse or accidental misuse of bioscience and biotechnology. IBBIS’ initial work will focus on developing biosecurity tools and best practices for DNA synthesis providers around the world to prevent the misuse of DNA synthesis technology ↗, but IBBIS’ activities will broaden over time.


Speakers


Hayley Severance - Deputy Vice President, Global Biological Policy and Programs (NTI | Bio)

Chris Isaac - Program Officer, Global Biological Policy and Programs (NTI | Bio)

Careers in Governance, Policy and Diplomacy for Scientists

A discussion was held around careers in governance, policy or diplomacy? We hosted Nancy Connell and Stephanie Norlock to share their career paths in the field, the challenges that they faced, their biggest takeaway working in governance and policy and many more!


Speakers

Nancy Connell - Senior Scientist, US-National Academies
Stephanie Norlock - IFBA’s Program Officer

Biodiversity Youth Forum

Synthetic biology can be used to maintain global biodiversity. However, some community sectors perceive its use in agriculture as problematic. During the Biodiversity Youth Forum, paticipants had the opportunity to network with representatives of different youth organizations making efforts on biodiversity; they also joined the discussions on the scientific and social aspects surrounding the topic and ultimately participated in a position of iGEMers about biodiversity.


Organizers

Jose Garza Martinez
Jose Garza Martinez
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Project Head
Monterrey, Mexico
Aulia Reski Widyaningrum
Aulia Reski Widyaningrum
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Depok, Indonesia
Elizaveta Bobkova
Elizaveta Bobkova
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Marburg, Germany
Jose Manuel Salvador Lopez
Jose Manuel Salvador Lopez
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Ghent, Belgium
Martin Holub
Martin Holub
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Delft, The Netherlads
Yuhan Bao
Yuhan Bao
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HQ Liaison, Human Practices Program Officer
Beijing, China
Tessa Alexanian
Tessa Alexanian
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HQ Liaison, Safety & Security Program Officer
Toronto, Canada
Youssef Mahmoud Abdelmaksoud
Youssef Mahmoud Abdelmaksoud
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Reporter
Cairo, Egypt
Yorgo El Moubayed
Yorgo El Moubayed
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Coordinator
Paris, France