Contact
Share your thoughts and ideas with us policy@igem.org
The Governance and Policy (GAP) topic showcases the importance of understanding regulatory, political and socio-economic challenges and opportunities relevant to the application and growth of synthetic biology. Many iGEMers have continued their involvement in biopolicy, and have contributed to the development of local and global synthetic biology policies and related governance. This topic provides you the opportunity to participate in processes that shape the field’s larger adaption, such as policy discussions and public consultations, also encouraging our community to develop governance solutions through different projects.
Projects
Governance & PolicyMastering Biosafety & Biosecurity
A free course gives an introduction to these issues, equipping scientists with essential biosecurity and biosafety knowledge to practice safe science. Dive into laboratory safety, ethical practices, and global policies to empower your science with safety and responsibility.
Governance & PolicyPolicy Research
Members from the community interested in Governance and Policy are conducting independent research into policy topics related to synthetic biology with the aim to produce a series of whitepapers and encourage you to participate in public policy discussions.
Governance & PolicyiGEM Model UN
Unleash your potential as a global leader at our Model UN conference focused on the crucial issues of biological weapons and biodiversity conservation. As a delegate, you'll hone your negotiation and drafting skills while making a real impact on the world.
Governance & Policy
Education
Science CommunicationiGEMers Governance & Policy Newsletter
The GAP Newsletter aims to promote synbio governance and policy news, reflections, and overviews from iGEMers and synbio enthusiasts. It will provide the community access to the current policies, proposals, and diplomatic positions related to synbio topics.
Governance & PolicyGlobal Policy Comments
Identify open public policy comments/consultations, and put together comments representing the iGEM community.
Governance & Policy
Open Science & AccessibilityShipping Policies
The Shipping Policies project aims to study how to extend access to synthetic biology and its tools by understanding local/regional bureaucracy and policy. The pilot project started in Latin America, in collaboration with the Open Science & Accessibility Network.
GlobalGovernance & PolicyValues and Risks Workshops
iGEM Ambassadors together with iGEM teams, explore issues of safety, security and responsibility. The aim is to help teams to understand more about the risks in their projects.
Events
Governance & PolicyGovernance and Policy Weekend
The Governance and Policy Weekend is a 3-days event that aims to promote reflection on local and global policies to understand their importance and impact on synthetic biology.
Governance & PolicyiGEM World Environment Day
iGEM hosted the online seminar Synthetic Biology: a Bold Choice for a Healthy Planet? on June 3, 2022, in honour of the World Environment Day and the 50th anniversary of 1972 United Nations Conference on the Environment.
Governance & PolicyiGEMer Discussion - Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention
The Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition aims to encourage the next generation of global biosecurity leaders by soliciting essays on a prompt basis. The Governance & Policy network hosted two discussion sessions around the prompt to exchange ideas with fellow iGEMers!
Governance & PolicyGlobal Policy Mapping Hackathon
Map the landscape of global import/export policies that apply to specific areas of synthetic biology. Expand on the map with a hackathon event to build an understanding of global governance of synthetic biology.