Team:Aachen/PolicyPractices
From 2014.igem.org
(→Policy & Practices) |
(→Spreading the Idea of Synthetic Biology) |
||
Line 64: | Line 64: | ||
<span class="anchor" id="ppsocialacceptance"></span> | <span class="anchor" id="ppsocialacceptance"></span> | ||
- | How can we convince people that the technology we develop is safe to use and that the problems we tackle concern everybody? Unfortunately, a lot people around the world are scared of genetically modified organisms and any application related to them. Though we believe that '''natural skepticism''' towards new and unproved technologies is not just good but especially desirable, the current fear some people encounter gene technology with is a bit disproportionate and might be counterproductive to technological and scientific advance in related fields. | + | How can we convince people that the technology we develop is safe to use and that the problems we tackle with our project concern everybody? Unfortunately, a lot people around the world are scared of genetically modified organisms and any application related to them. Though we believe that '''natural skepticism''' towards new and unproved technologies is not just good but especially desirable, the current fear some people encounter gene technology with is a bit disproportionate and might be counterproductive to technological and scientific advance in related fields. |
- | However, as reported, for example, in an [http://www.rundschau-online.de/magazin/gentechnik--risiko-oder-chance-,15184902,15929266.html article] published in a local newspaper's magazine, Kölnische Rundschau, the social acceptance of biotechnological products could be higher if people felt informed better and understood the underlying science. Following up on this, we thought about how we can inform people '''factually but in a comprehensible way''' about gene technology and synthetic biology. | + | However, as reported, for example, in an [http://www.rundschau-online.de/magazin/gentechnik--risiko-oder-chance-,15184902,15929266.html article] published in a local newspaper's magazine, Kölnische Rundschau, the social acceptance of biotechnological products could be higher if people felt informed better and understood the underlying science. Following up on this, we thought about how we can inform people '''factually but in a comprehensible way''' about gene technology and synthetic biology. Before we talk about fancy devices in synthetic biology, how can we '''get down to the underlying issue''' of social rejection of gene technology in general? |
- | At the same time, '''young students''' interested in science and engineering are the most valuable future source of innovation. One day, they might be the researchers who develop the solutions to the most pressing issues of our world. | + | At the same time, '''young students''' interested in science and engineering are the most valuable future source of innovation. One day, they might be the researchers who develop the solutions to the most pressing issues of our world. For that reason, informing this group of people is of utmost importance and was therefore prioritized in our Policy & Practices work. |
Combining these two thoughts, we visited '''two schools''', the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Collaborations/Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium] in Aachen and the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Collaborations/Neanderlab NEAnderLab] in Hilden, where we talked to students about synthetic biology and the iGEM competition, but also explained the scientific background and social aspects of our project. A delegation of our team also visited the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Collaborations/MakerFaire MakerFaire] in Hannover, a family-friendly '''exhibition for tinkerers''' of all kinds, to spread the idea of synthetic biology and to discuss our project with the public. When we organized the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Meetup Aachen iGEM Meetup 2014], we also made sure to include a '''public part''' where all teams who participated in our meetup had the opportunity to present their project to a general audience. | Combining these two thoughts, we visited '''two schools''', the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Collaborations/Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium Kaiser-Karls-Gymnasium] in Aachen and the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Collaborations/Neanderlab NEAnderLab] in Hilden, where we talked to students about synthetic biology and the iGEM competition, but also explained the scientific background and social aspects of our project. A delegation of our team also visited the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Collaborations/MakerFaire MakerFaire] in Hannover, a family-friendly '''exhibition for tinkerers''' of all kinds, to spread the idea of synthetic biology and to discuss our project with the public. When we organized the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aachen/Meetup Aachen iGEM Meetup 2014], we also made sure to include a '''public part''' where all teams who participated in our meetup had the opportunity to present their project to a general audience. |
Revision as of 07:04, 14 October 2014
|
|
|
|
|