I build experiments in governing the security, safety, and ethical concerns in science and technology. Topically, I am currently focused on biology.
Projects
Current Areas of Work
1
When should a society be concerned about the security aspects of its innovation pathways, and what should it do about it?Â
2
How do Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars manage relations with the subjects of their studies?
3
Since around 2012, I have been developing a focus on security governance in biology, especially synthetic biology
4
Multilateral export controls for much of the Cold War centered on the Coordinating Committee (CoCom). I maintain a digital archive of the British versions of the CoCom lists from 1954-1994.
Publications
Biorisk Management Casebook
It's really hard to talk about the actual practice of biorisk management. Let's change that.
When all research is dual use
It is a time for a change in the way we understand the relationship between science, security, and society. In my recent piece in Issues in Science and Technology, I…
Making Security Viral: Shifting Engineering Biology Culture and Publishing
The ability to construct, synthesize, and edit genes and genomes at scale and with speed enables, in synergy with other tools of engineering biology, breakthrough applications with far-reaching implications for…
iGEM and Gene Drives: A Case Study for Governance
Less than a year after the first published paper on CRISPR-CAS9 gene drives, an undergraduate team in the international Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition were trying to create one for…
Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on the Implementation of the United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern: Workshop Report
This report documents the discussions of the 2017 Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on the Implementation of the United States Government Policy for Institutional Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of…
Embrace Experimentation in Biosecurity Governance
One of the biggest lessons we can learn from the current pandemic is the need to learn lessons without a pandemic. We can do that by taking a more experimental…
News
Ethics in the Lab Final Report
Over the course of the last 4 years, I have developed a set of experimental goverannce processes for changing the practice, policy, and pedagogy of science and engineering to better…
What Is Biosecurity for the Twenty-First Century?
What do we need to change about biosecurity governance, and how should we do that? In a recent webinar hosted by Issues in Science and Technology and the Consortium for…
ABSA 1st Biosecurity Symposium Keynote
The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) International is getting serious about biosecurity. Over the last several years, it has initiated the development of a biosecurity credential for biosafety professionals, and…
Embrace Experimentation in Biosecurity Governance
One of the biggest lessons we can learn from the current pandemic is the need to learn lessons without a pandemic. We can do that by taking a more experimental…
Review of Controls for Emerging Technology
The US Government is asking for advice on how to identify and define emerging technology of security concern. You have until 19 December 2018 to provide your comments.
The use and abuse of science and technology: rethinking dual-use
For over a decade now, I have be rolling around the concept of dual-use in my research, much like how a kitten plays with a fluff ball in the sunbeams…