Governing Synthetic Biology

Governing Synthetic Biology focuses on understanding different ways that scientists, engineers and their stakeholders can shape and steer—or govern—synthetic biology. The text shows that there are many ways, and many tools available, to steer the direction of new technologies. These include funding, intellectual property, safety guidelines, infrastructure development, forecasting activities, stakeholder engagement approaches, formal regulations, and many more. Central to the idea of governance in the text is that that fields like synthetic biology are continually evolving, as a result of technical capabilities as well as substantial social, financial, infrastructural, and political investments. Furthermore, synthetic biology is developing within a complex existing landscape of existing ownership models, trade agreements, and regulation around biotechnology. In short, it is part of a sociotechnical system. Understanding this sociotechnical system is key to figuring out how to steer it towards positive outcomes.