GES Colloquium
Hybrid | Details forthcoming. Note the new location in Biltmore 2006. The 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. GES 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. Remember, 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. Please subscribe to the GES newsletter and LinkedIn for updates....
Blog: Beyond Innovation: Putting Humanity at the Heart of Biotechnology
Modesta Abugu | Attending the 2025 Spirit of Asilomar Conference shifted my scientific perspective profoundly—highlighting the urgent need to center ethics, equity, and human values in biotechnology....Continue reading "Blog: Beyond Innovation: Putting Humanity at the Heart of Biotechnology"
Blog: The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology
Surabhi Metpally | A reflection on Dr. Katie Barnhill’s GES Colloquium talk about the 2025 Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology summit, and how it revisits the legacy of scientific self-regulation sparked by the original 1975 conference....Continue reading "Blog: The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology"
Anastasia Bodnar – NSCEB Report: Charting the Future of Biotechnology | Virtual | GES Colloquium
Zoom Only | Dr. Anastasia Bodnar will present an overview of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology’s recently published report, outlining key recommendations to accelerate biotechnology in the United States....
Todd Kuiken(!) – AI in the Biological Sciences: Uses, Safety, Security, and Oversight | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Hybrid | Former GES Sr. Research Scholar Todd Kuiken returns from Washington, DC to explore the convergence of artificial intelligence with the biological sciences and the public policy issues addressing potential benefits and associated biosafety and biosecurity concerns. Includes links to schedule a meeting with Todd during his visit from 4/14-4/15, as well as to join us for lunch after colloquium on Tuesday....
Michelle L. Johnson – Altering Traits and Fates of Wild Populations with Allele Sails | Virtual | GES Colloquium
Zoom Only | How can we use genetics to manage wild populations, and how do the bioengineers working on these projects predict their impact?...
Ritwick Ghosh – Questioning the Accounting Impulse in Environmental Policy | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Hybrid | Using a practice-centered approach to analyze the rise and implications of environmental accounting....
Katie Barnhill – Is the Spirit of Asilomar Still Haunting Biotechnology? | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Hybrid | An overview and analysis of my experience at the 2025 The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology Summit...
Jory Weintraub – Telling Your Science Story | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Withers 331 + Zoom | This short, interactive workshop will explore why and how to use storytelling to communicate your research, and give you a chance to practice and receive feedback....Continue reading "Jory Weintraub – Telling Your Science Story | Hybrid | GES Colloquium"
Lirong Xiang – Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Precision Agriculture | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Hybrid | This presentation highlights the developments in AI and robotics in precision agriculture, along with real-world applications. ...
Mallory Choudoir – Microbiomes at the Roots of Environmental and Social Justice | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Hybrid | Dr. Choudoir explores the role of soil microbiomes in sustainable agriculture and why their conservation is essential for environmental and social justice....
Rohan Shirwaiker – Sustainable Proteins: Towards Building a Resilient Agri-Food System | Zoom | GES Colloquium
Zoom | This talk will provide an overview of sustainable proteins and their role and importance in the global agri-food system. NOTE: Due to a planned campuswide WolfAlert active threat drill on 2/18, this talk will now be held via Zoom instead of in-person. Additionally, the video and podcast recordings of this talk will be embargoed until the end of the spring semester....
William Kimler – Eugenics before Genetics | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Withers 331 + Zoom | Historical examination of the societal concerns, current ideas and practices, and disciplines that created the context in the early 20th century for the enthusiastic engagement of geneticists in the eugenics movement....Continue reading "William Kimler – Eugenics before Genetics | Hybrid | GES Colloquium"
Katie Sanders – Consumer Perceptions for Emerging Ag Tech | Hybrid | GES Colloquium
Withers 331 + Zoom | How agricultural science communication can move beyond traditional, deficit models to engage diverse audiences through dialogue-based strategies aligned with Cooperative Extension’s founding mission....