The Science & Ethics of Synthetic Biology
international intersectional course on Buzz Online
Background
Buzz Online, this US-based educational organisation offers six-week project-based courses developed & taught by nationally-recognized youth. They foster a community of empowered students who learn through creating and experimenting.
SynthEthics is grateful for this fruitful collaboration with Buzz Online, bringing to life the “Science & Ethics of Synthetic Biology” international course with 60+ participants from the US, South Africa, India, Philippines, ages ranging from 11-19 years, and 10 instructors from Sweden, Hungary, Philippines, the US, India and Denmark - SynthEthics and invited iGEM members: from iGEM Lund and Copenhagen.
Course Information
For the first time in history, mankind can alter the blueprint of life. However, with such great power comes great responsibilities and a need for thorough ethical considerations before acting. This course will teach you about synthetic biology, a growing subfield of bio-technology which brings together the tools of genetic manipulation with engineering principles, as well as the ethical implications progress in the field entails.
During the weeks, accomplished global youth leaders and young researchers representing the international initiative, SynthEthics will come along and guide the participants in the maze of new-era biotechnology. Synthetic biology is one of those fields where it is best to get things right the first time because it might be the only chance we get. /From Buzz Online/
Acquired Skills
Syllabus
• Soft skills: critical thinking, problem-framing and solving, analytical reasoning, adaptable intelligence, effective communication, collaboration
• Hard skills: research process, ethical decision-making, information literacy, organization of arguments
Week 1: Introduction to Synthetic Biology
Central Topics
Week 2: Medicine and Gene-editing Technologies
Week 3: Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecology
Week 4: Neuroscience
Week 5: Artificial Intelligence and iGEM Teams
Week 6: Presentations, End of Course
The presenters of the best two projects won the opportunity of being on the global youth scientific podcast, Drop the STEM: Kinjaal Nagindas, a university student in Microbiology with experience in Food Sciences and Biotechnology, and Brian Chen, a high school student from the US with interest in Agricultural Biotechnology. DTS gang members also accompanied the winners: Alice Cai, Founder of BuzzOnline and Erik Hartman, Founder of SynthEthics, hosted by Blanka Novák, Founder of SynthEthics and the podcast.
Podcast Episode
Recorded Classes
Week 1: Introduction to Synthetic Biology
Instructors: Erik Hartman and Blanka Novák
Week 2: Medicine and Gene-editing Technologies
Instructors: Shaira Gozun and Bea Suavengco
Week 3: Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecology
Instructors: Lester Sabadao and Aranyo Ray
Week 4: Neuroscience
Instructor: Jay Iyer
Week 5: Artificial Intelligence and iGEM Teams
Instructors: Arvid Larsson, Ignacio Pardo Casado and
Amr Ghazal; Hosts: Erik Hartman and Blanka Novák
