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SUMMARY:Kristen Landreville - Societal and Ethical Implications in Research of Microbiome Engineering in the Built Environment | GES Colloquium (Hybrid)
DESCRIPTION:FALL SEMINAR SERIES\nSocietal and Ethical Implications in Research of Microbiome Engineering in the Built Environment\nHybrid: Biltmore 2006 + Zoom | Dr. Landreville will present research on public perceptions\, concerns\, and hopes of microbiome engineering to improve the health of indoor spaces\, including public opinion of genetically engineered microbes. \nWhat do people think about using genetically engineered microbes in their homes to prevent mold or reduce pathogens in their kitchen sink? To what extent does the public support introducing microbiomes into hospital sinks to reduce hospital-acquired infections? What are some societal and ethical implications of these emerging technologies? In her talk\, Dr. Landreville will present research that addresses these questions using data from public opinion surveys\, qualitative interviews\, and home observations. She will also discuss the responsible research and innovation framework\, principles\, and practices that PreMiEr (Precision Microbiome Engineering Research) employs in its research. The goal of her presentation is to provide the audience with knowledge about the extent to which the public thinks about the health of their indoor environments as related to microbes and the extent to which the public is willing to consider microbiome engineering and genetically engineered microbes to improve the health of their homes\, hospitals\, and other indoor spaces. \nRelated links: \n\nNatural vs. genetically engineered microbiomes: understanding public attitudes for indoor applications and pathways for future engagement\nTaking the temperature of the United States public regarding microbiome engineering\nSocietal and Ethical Implications of Microbiome Engineering of the Built Environment Workshop 2024\nSocietal and Ethical Implications of Microbiome Engineering of the Built Environment Symposium 2025\nPrecision Microbiome Engineering Research Center\nDownload seminar graphic\n\nDr. Kristen Landreville\, PhD\nSenior Research Scholar at NC State University | Profile \nKristen D. Landreville\, PhD\, is a Senior Research Scholar at North Carolina State University\, where she leads social science and public engagement research as part of the Societal and Ethical Implications (SEI) Core in the PreMiEr Engineering Research Center. She collaborates with teams across five universities to investigate public understanding of microbiomes of the built environment\, such as fungal mold in households along coastal towns. Broadly\, Kristen is a social scientist with experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. She uses her expertise in communication\, media\, psychology\, and political science to study public attitudes and behaviors surrounding science\, the environment\, health\, and risk. \n\nThe Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. \nGES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry\, and the seminars serve as a great opportunity for our students to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts\, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars\, which will now take place in Biltmore 2006. \nRemember\, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast\, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. \nPlease subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.
URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/colloquium-2025-09-02/
LOCATION:Biltmore 2006\, 2820 Faucette Dr\, Raleigh\, NC\, 27606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Colloquium,GES Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="GES Center":MAILTO:gesocietycenter@ncsu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250908T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250908T093000
DTSTAMP:20260505T070646
CREATED:20250904T185114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T185242Z
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SUMMARY:IUCN Webinar: Innovation for conservation: Exploring opportunities and risks of synthetic biology
DESCRIPTION:IUCN Webinar:\nInnovation for conservation: Exploring opportunities and risks of synthetic biology\nCurious about the role of synthetic biology in conservation? Register for this upcoming IUCN webinar on Sept. 8th! \nRegister on Zoom: https://bit.ly/4oYvDts \nDownload graphic \nHighlights include:\n \n\nEthical considerations for synthetic biology — Dr. Katie Barnhill (NC State GES Center)\nWhere synbio could fit in the conservation toolbox\nGovernance approaches that could inform IUCN policy and engagement ahead of the IUCN World Conservation Congress (Oct 2025)\n\n 
URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/iucn-webinar-synbio-conservation-biology-9-8-25/
LOCATION:
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IUCN-Synbio-webinar_090825_800x450.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T130000
DTSTAMP:20260505T070646
CREATED:20250819T202629Z
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SUMMARY:Emma Davies and Joseph Gakpo - Responsible Innovation and Gene Editing in African Agriculture | GES Colloquium (Hybrid)
DESCRIPTION:Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | GES Video Library (current) | Video Archives | Podcast | LinkedIn | Newsletter \nFALL SEMINAR SERIES\nAdapting the Responsible Innovation Framework for Gene Editing in African Agriculture\nHybrid Biltmore 2006 + Zoom | Former GES Fellows join us to discuss whether the Responsible Innovation framework can support genome-edited agriculture in Africa\, given governance challenges\, international pressures\, and food sovereignty priorities. \nThe application of genome editing (GEd) in African agriculture is increasingly promoted as a response to urgent food security challenges\, yet its broader social acceptance remains uncertain. The Responsible Innovation (RI) framework\, developed largely in European contexts\, emphasizes inclusive and anticipatory processes. This paper examines whether RI\, in its current form\, is applicable in Africa or whether significant adaptation is required to reflect local realities. Specifically\, we assess whether the framework’s principles of anticipation\, reflexivity\, inclusion\, and responsiveness can withstand the realities of Africa’s GEd agricultural contexts: the dominance of international funding\, the outsized influence of foreign institutions\, and institutional weaknesses in regulation that leave executive arms of government with disproportionate authority. We also examine the role of diverse stakeholders\, including international investors\, donors\, and scientists\, in shaping GEd trajectories in Africa\, in relation to the positioning of local consumers. These reflections are further situated within urgent debates on food sovereignty and the responsibilities of African governments in providing governance guidance. While recognizing that RI is not intended as a tool for encouraging acceptance\, we also consider whether its processes might nevertheless contribute to the legitimacy and social acceptability of GEd technology in Africa. \nRelated links: \n\nHow hunger drives conversations on agricultural technologies: an analysis of the rhetoric of pro-GMO advocates on selected Ghanaian media platforms\, Gakpo et al.\, Journal of Science Communication\, 2025\nThe evolution of media reportage on GMOs in Ghana following approval of first GM crop\, Gakpo et al.\, GM Crops & Food\, 2024\nDownload seminar poster\n\nMs. Emma Davies\nContributing Editor at NC Sea Grant | Profile \nEmma Davies is a graduate student in the M.A. in Liberal Studies Program at NC State University. She holds a B.A. in Communication (specializing in journalism). Emma is an environmental and agricultural journalist with about six years of experience in the field. She is a winner of many journalism awards\, including the 2025 Science Storytelling Showcase\, 2024 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ)/Alltech Young Global Leader award\, the 2022 Ghana Journalists Association Business/Economics Reporter of the Year\, and Aquaculture Journalist of the Year awards. Emma is also an INFAS Food Systems Fellow. \nHer research lies at the intersection of science and communication\, with a focus on translating complex scientific knowledge into accessible narratives that inform policy\, enhance public understanding\, and contribute to sustainable food systems. \nJoseph Opoku Gakpo\, PhD\nCEO of HavAfric | Profile \nJoseph Opoku Gakpo\, Ph.D.\, is an agricultural communications scholar and food systems policy analyst. He holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Education & Human Sciences (Concentration in Extension) from North Carolina State University. He additionally holds an M.A. in Liberal Studies\, an M.A. in Communication Studies\, and a BSc. in Agricultural Biotechnology. He is a 2016 Global Leadership Fellow of Cornell University’s Alliance for Science Program and a 2020 AgBioFEWS Fellow. \nJoseph teaches communication methods in agriculture\, and his academic research examines how humans interact with technology. Specifically\, his interdisciplinary research explores strategies for communicating agricultural biotechnologies and mechanisms for trust building. \nAs a food systems policy analyst\, he analyzes and advises on policies that shape the governance of food in Africa. He is a big believer in the age-old saying that “if hunger was only a production problem\, we would have solved it by now.” He thus conducts research and facilitates stakeholder engagements that promote integrated approaches to tackling Africa’s complex food system challenges. \nCurrently\, Gakpo serves as CEO of HavAfric – a start up that is pioneering a new\, bottom-up model for the deployment of biotech crops in Africa\, guided by the principles of Responsible Innovation. \n\nThe Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. \nGES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry\, and the seminars serve as a great opportunity for our students to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts\, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars\, which will now take place in Biltmore 2006. \nRemember\, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast\, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. \nPlease subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.
URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/colloquium-2025-09-09/
LOCATION:Biltmore 2006\, 2820 Faucette Dr\, Raleigh\, NC\, 27606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Colloquium,GES Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="GES Center":MAILTO:gesocietycenter@ncsu.edu
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250923T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250923T130000
DTSTAMP:20260505T070646
CREATED:20250819T204311Z
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SUMMARY:Veljko Dubljevic - Ethical Implications of Self-Driving Labs | GES Colloquium (Hybrid)
DESCRIPTION:FALL SEMINAR SERIES\nEthical Implications of Self-Driving Labs\nHybrid: Biltmore 2006 + Zoom | Is it possible to mitigate specific ethical risks that arise from the integration of Self-Driving Labs (SDLs) into scientific research? \n\n\n\n\n\n\nNote: The recordings of this talk will not be posted. \n\nArtificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used across scientific disciplines to integrate huge datasets\, improve measurements\, guide experiments\, interpret data\, and create reliable models that integrate seamlessly with scientific workflows for autonomous discovery (Wang et al.\, 2023). Self-driving labs (SDLs)\, or autonomous experimentation\, serve as a prime example of how AI and machine learning (ML) merged with experimental research can enhance scientific discovery (Abolhasani et al.\, 2023). Current discussions on SDL’s primarily focus on their technological capabilities\, yet critical ethical and metascientific questions remain underexplored. These include concerns about algorithmic bias (Steier & Bakhshi\, 2023)\, the reliability of automated discoveries\, and the role of human researchers (Musslick et al.\, 2025). A flawed dataset or an unintentional mistake can lead an SDL toward inaccurate conclusions and squander valuable resources\, challenging scientific objectivity and reproducibility. Furthermore\, there are concerns regarding how to regulate SDL technology and establish safeguards to prevent its misuse. Automation carries the risk of being exploited by malicious actors for harmful purposes\, such as developing chemical or biological weapons (Musslick et al.\, 2025). There is an urgent need to develop frameworks to mitigate these issues\, ensuring that SDLs enhance rather than undermine research integrity. \nRelated links: \n\nDownload seminar poster\n\nVeljko Dubljevic\, PhD\nUniversity Faculty Scholar\, Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor at NC State University | Profile \nVeljko Dubljević\, Ph.D.\, D.Phil.\, University Faculty Scholar and Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and STS (Science\, Technology and Society)\, leads the NeuroComputational Ethics Research Group at NC State University. He is the Editor-in-Chief of American Journal of Bioethics – Neuroscience\, series co-editor for “Advances in Neuroethics\,” and serves on the Board of Directors of the International Neuroethics Society. He is a prolific author in Neuroethics and Ethics of AI\, having published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and five books. He is the founding director of the center for AI in society and ethics (CASE). \n\nThe Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. \nGES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry\, and the seminars serve as a great opportunity for our students to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts\, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars\, which will now take place in Biltmore 2006. \nRemember\, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast\, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. \nPlease subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.
URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/colloquium-2025-09-23/
LOCATION:Biltmore 2006\, 2820 Faucette Dr\, Raleigh\, NC\, 27606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Colloquium,GES Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="GES Center":MAILTO:gesocietycenter@ncsu.edu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250930T130000
DTSTAMP:20260505T070646
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SUMMARY:SRA Panel: Is “risk” Risk? | GES Colloquium (Hybrid)
DESCRIPTION:Colloquium Home | Zoom Registration | GES Video Library (current) | Video Archives | Podcast | LinkedIn | Newsletter \nFALL SEMINAR SERIES\nSRA Panel: Is “risk” Risk?\nBiltmore 2006 + Zoom | Leadership from the Society for Risk Analysis explores how ‘risk’ is understood and practiced across agencies and communities working with emerging technologies. \nAlthough formal and legal definitions of risk are widely invoked in policy and governance\, the concept itself is deeply contingent on context and perspective. This panel brings together members of the Society for Risk Analysis – Research Triangle Regional Organization (SRA-RTO) to examine how diverse professional communities articulate and operationalize “risk” in practice. Drawing on experiences from federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\, as well as collaborations with Tribal leaders and other communities\, panelists will reflect on the social\, institutional\, and epistemic dimensions of risk assessment. By situating emerging technologies within these varied frameworks\, the discussion highlights the tensions between standardized definitions and lived realities\, raising the question of whether “risk” can ever be a singular\, shared concept. \nRelated links: \n\nSociety for Risk Analysis\nDownload seminar poster\n\nPanelists\nMembers of the executive board of the Society for Risk Analysis – Research Triangle Regional Organization. \n\nNick Loschin\, PhD Student in Interdisciplinary Risk Sciences (Applied Ecology) and AgBioFEWS Fellow\, NC State\nJill Furgurson\, PhD Student in Forestry and Environmental Resources\, STS scholar\, and AgBioFEWS Fellow\, NC State\nMadison Horgan\, PhD Student in Environmental Engineering and member of the Interdisciplinary Risk Sciences team\, NC State\nPaul Schlosser\, Biologist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\nKatie Barnhill\, Associate Director of Programs & Engagement at the GES Center\, NC State\n\n\nThe Genetic Engineering and Society (GES) Colloquium is a seminar series that brings in speakers to present and stimulate discussion on a variety of topics related to existing and proposed biotechnologies and their place within broader societal changes. \nGES Colloquium is jointly taught by Drs. Katie Barnhill and Nourou Barry\, and the seminars serve as a great opportunity for our students to build their networks and grow as professionals. To support their efforts\, we encourage you to join our in-person seminars\, which will now take place in Biltmore 2006. \nRemember\, we regularly post colloquium seminars as videos on Panopto and on our GES Lectures podcast\, allowing you to revisit or catch up on these recordings at your convenience. \nPlease subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates.
URL:https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/colloquium-2025-09-30/
LOCATION:Biltmore 2006\, 2820 Faucette Dr\, Raleigh\, NC\, 27606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Colloquium,GES Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="GES Center":MAILTO:gesocietycenter@ncsu.edu
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