Christopher Cummings on Risk, Responsibility, and Standardization: Lessons from multiple NATO-Sponsored Biotechnology Workshops | Colloquium
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FALL SEMINAR SERIES
Christopher L. Cummings, Ph.D.
Research Social Scientist at the US Army Corp of Engineers and Senior Research Fellow at the GES Center, NC State University
3170 Plant Sciences Building Innovation Hub + Zoom | Drawing on NATO-sponsored biotechnology workshops, this talk examines how rapid technological convergence, divergent national risk cultures, and fragmented regulations complicate responsible innovation and defense cooperation. It presents safety-by-design, adaptive governance, and the TAPIC principles as approaches for aligning technical development with ethical, legal, social, safety, and security considerations. The talk concludes with strategies for strengthening international standardization, interoperability, public trust, and shared responsibility without constraining innovation.
About the speaker
Christopher L. Cummings, PhD, is a behavioral theorist and social science researcher specializing in risk perception, public engagement, and the governance of emerging technologies. He leads the Center for Health Engineering at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, where he integrates behavioral science with engineering, risk analysis, and public health systems. At North Carolina State University, he is a Senior Research Fellow with the Genetic Engineering and Society Center and a Research Social Scientist with the NSF-funded Precision Microbiome Engineering Research Center, where he examines the societal and governance dimensions of biotechnology. Dr. Cummings has directed multiple NATO Advanced Research Workshops addressing biotechnology convergence, risk governance, standardization, and defense resilience. He also served on a National Academies committee reviewing environmental, biosafety, and biosecurity considerations for synthetic cell research. Author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and Secondary Risk Theory, his work connects technical risk assessment with public values, trust, policy acceptance, and strategic communication.
The GES Colloquium brings together speakers and audiences from across disciplines to explore the societal, ethical, environmental, and governance dimensions of emerging biotechnologies.
Seminars are held Tuesdays from 12-1 p.m. ET in 3170 Plant Sciences Building Innovation Hub and via Zoom. GES 609 is taught by Dr. Zack Brown. Recordings are regularly posted as videos and on the GES Lectures podcast.
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