The Institute
for Social, Economic and Ecological Sustainability leads a Biosafety
Governance Program that involves education and professional training,
research and outreach on biosafety science and policy. Projects under
this program are the Safety First Initiative and the Governance of Genetically
Modified Marine Organisms.
Safety
First Initiative
The Institute
for Social, Economic and Ecological Sustainability is pioneering an
alternative approach to biotechnology that transcends the currently
polarized debates. The Institute is proposing to make human and ecological
safety the first priorities in the production and use of genetically
modified organisms and derived products. This "Safety First" approach
combines the initiative of business with government and consumer and
public interest group involvement in shaping, reviewing, and overseeing
the formulation and implementation of scientifically reliable and socially
credible safety standards.
Click
here to enter the Safety First Initiative Website
Governance
of Genetically Modified Marine Organisms
The goal
of this project is to improve US environmental governance of marine
GMOs in order to protect marine biodiversity from new risks posed by
releases of marine GMOs. The project aims to address marine GMOs ranging
from finfish and shellfish to algae. Viewing successful governance as
a three-legged stool, project activities aim to strengthen the "legs"
of government, industry and the public in proactive safety governance
of marine GMOs.
Click
here to see the resources, and to learn more.
Biotechnology
& Governance Program Related Courses
In the
future, we plan to teach a biosafety science and policy course as
part of the Insitute's Sustainability Studies Program.
Biosafety
Science and Policy
NRES 5480, 3 cr.
Click
here to see the proposed course syllabus
