On December 1 - 2, 2022, the Young Scientists Salon on Synthetic Biology Technology and Ethical Policy of China Association for Science and Technology was held online and offline in Shenzhen, sponsored by the China Association for Science and Technology, organized by Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Association and supported by the “Belt and Road” Alliance of International Science Organizations, Asian Synthetic Biology Association, the Youth Work Group of the Synthetic Biology Branch of China Society of Biotechnology, the School of Synthetic Biology of SIAT University and the Synthetic Biology Institute of SIAT.
Liu Chenli, vice president of SIAT, and Jia Bo, senior director of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO), delivered a speech successively. Liu Chenli introduced the general situation of synthetic biology, and pointed out the importance of carrying out researches on policy and ethics regulations and think-tank strategy and science and technology communication at once. Jia Bo introduced that the ANSO had been committed to advancing international scientific innovation development and cooperation and proposed to actively promote the cooperation in the innovative development and application of synthetic biology in countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”.
The event was unfolded around topics such as synthetic biotechnology innovation, industrial development, science and technology ethics and regulations, biological safety and development initiative, as more than 40 experts and young scholars from all walks of life at home and abroad (including four from the US, and 11 from Hong Kong and Macao) got together to share and exchange views and explore the high quality innovative development strategy of synthetic biology technology and industry.
In the invited talk, Zhang Xian’en, vice president of Chinese Society of Biotechnology, systematically elaborated the connotation and development process of synthetic biology and the roadmaps of different countries, and put forward the opportunities and challenges in the field of synthetic biology. Li Zhenzhen, a researcher with the Science and Technology Strategy Consulting Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences elaborated in detail the synthetic biology from the perspective of science and technology ethics, and suggested that modern science and technology, social changes, scientific research and business application were closely associated. The dual goals of science were to shape the new relationship between science and ethics and analyze the innovative development strategy of synthetic biology from the dimension of ethics. Yang Guoliang, a researcher with the Science and Technology Strategy Consulting Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, explored the trend of cutting-edge technology from such aspects as the leadership of digital technology, reform of science and technology systems, challenges faced by science and technology governance and science and technology competition patterns. Xia Lin, founder of Powered Carbon and an associate researcher with SIAT, detailed the solution of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” empowered by synthetic biology industry. Du Li, an associate professor from the Law School of the University of Macau, shared the legal norms and regulatory strategies in the development and commercialization of synthetic biotechnology. Peng Yaojin, a researcher with the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, elaborated the topic of biosafety and prevention strategies.
During the youth report, young scientists exchanged and shared views on such directions as science and technology, ethics, philosophy and communication. Guo Haotian, founder and CEO of Red Panda Biology, shared the information of artificial cell synthesis and its application scenarios in the future. Ou Yakun, an associate professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, described the ethical issues and policy responses of synthetic biology. Huang Jingtian from the University of Macau explored the “emergence” of biological functions from the perspective of institutional theory. Ma Shiwen of Soochow University shared the two dimensions of the synthetic biology metaphor and explored the uncertainty of science from the philosophical level. Yi Xiao, a researcher with SIAT, started from the perspective of science and technology communication to introduce the characteristics and influence of technological communication in the field of synthetic biology. Bao Yuhan, deputy director of the Youth Work Group of the Synthetic Biology Branch of Chinese Society of Biotechnology, shared the necessity and significance of responsible innovation.
In the end, the participants launched a heated discussion on the innovation and development initiative of synthetic biology for young scientists, and reached a consensus on the innovation and development of young scientists around synthetic biology technology from such aspects as scientific and technological innovation, industrial empowerment, ethical responsibility, legal responsibility and social responsibility.
The event has set up an exchange platform for young scientific and technological talents from all walks of life, such as synthetic biotechnology, industry, policy, ethics and regulations, think tank research and media communication, and greatly promoted the exchange of young talents at home and abroad.
Fu Xiongfei, deputy director of the Synthetic Biology Institute of SIAT and vice president of the Association, served as the executive chairman of the event, while Professor Lei Ruipeng, executive director of Bioethics Research Center of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, served as the co-chairman.