There is global competition over the economic and security benefits that stem from SynBio. Researchers at ANU are exploring these dynamics and how they will impact global collaboration on genetic editing and genetic resource sharing. At ANU we have deep expertise on SynBio technology, ethics, public opinion and the bioeconomy. All of these impact geopolitics and are impacted by geopolitics.  Our work centres on Australia’s innovative environment for the bioeconomy; new ethical frameworks for SynBio in an era of fractured global cooperation; understanding how publics perceive new technological developments which ultimately defines what is feasible for governments and scientists.

Bio-innovation

Visions, Futures, and the Emerging Bioeconomy in Australia, led by Dr Dan Santos, examines how the emerging bioeconomy (or, particular sectors, areas or applications within it) is being imagined and communicated in the Australian context. ANU researchers work on biotechnology collaboration with Australia’s partners, including significant work on Australia-India biology partnerships.

New frameworks for Synbio ethics

Given the fractured nature of current global technology cooperation, global ethical and governance frameworks ANU, led by Dr Dirk van der Kley, is partnered with InKlude Labs in Bengaluru to develop new synthetic biology frameworks for the Indo-Pacific under a grant from the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Public and stakeholder opinion

Public opinion defines what is acceptable to governments and ultimately scientists and businesses. In collaboration with CSIRO, ANU has a project on Public views towards synthetic biology and its applications to society, led by Dr Henry Dixson, that studies what different groups in Australia feel about various SynBio applications. He also leads a project at the Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology and Western Sydney University on the emerging role of SynBio in negative emissions technologies.