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Sustainability and Anticipatory Governance in Synthetic Biology

Author

Listed:
  • Arnim Wiek

    (Arizona State University, USA)

  • David Guston

    (Arizona State University, USA)

  • Emma Frow

    (The University of Edinburgh, UK)

  • Jane Calvert

    (The University of Edinburgh, UK)

Abstract

A prominent imaginary of synthetic biology is the sustainability of bio-based technologies. In this paper, the authors discuss various reports, papers, and activities in synthetic biology in relation to a core set of principles of sustainability, paying particular attention to the concept of “prudent vigilance” as introduced by the report by the U.S. Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. The authors introduce two additional concepts – anticipatory governance and transformational sustainability science – and outline an approach for systematically incorporating sustainability considerations into the development of synthetic biology that addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by the field in a more robust way than prudent vigilance. The authors conclude that an opportunity exists to shape synthetic biology toward sustainable outcomes and make recommendations for how research funders might seize this opportunity.

Suggested Citation

  • Arnim Wiek & David Guston & Emma Frow & Jane Calvert, 2012. "Sustainability and Anticipatory Governance in Synthetic Biology," International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development (IJSESD), IGI Global, vol. 3(2), pages 25-38, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:igg:jsesd0:v:3:y:2012:i:2:p:25-38
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Scott L. Greer & Benjamin Trump, 2019. "Regulation and regime: the comparative politics of adaptive regulation in synthetic biology," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 52(4), pages 505-524, December.
    2. James Karabin & Izaac Mansfield & Emma K Frow, 2021. "Exploring presentations of sustainability by US synthetic biology companies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Ribeiro, Barbara & Shapira, Philip, 2019. "Anticipating governance challenges in synthetic biology: Insights from biosynthetic menthol," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 311-320.
    4. Ribeiro, Barbara & Shapira, Philip, 2020. "Private and public values of innovation: A patent analysis of synthetic biology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    5. Trump, Benjamin D., 2017. "Synthetic biology regulation and governance: Lessons from TAPIC for the United States, European Union, and Singapore," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(11), pages 1139-1146.

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