Copy

Genetic Engineering and Society Center

Integrating scientific knowledge & public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology

Center Updates

Dec 9, 2019  |  View in browser  |  Subscribe 

GES Colloquium 

Tuesdays 12-1PM, Poe 202
Enviro-Pig illustration via Popular Science

Final Fall Colloquium: Tuesday, 12/10

Public Perceptions of Enviro-Pig through Public Engagement Projects

Presented by students from GES/COM 508: Emerging Technologies & Society

 

Abstract

This presentation will explore public attitudes about the Enviro-Pig, a new use of genetic engineering to reduce phosphorus content in hog waste streams. Through focus groups with students in both animal sciences and environmental science classes, we sought to gauge public perception of GMOs and to see how participants view the Enviro-Pig as different from other genetically modified products. Because this new technology is in the initial stages of development, gathering data related to public perception can help inform critical decisions made about the continued viability and application of this research.

Additionally, it is key to understand the ethical, social, and environmental implications of the Enviro-Pig. Following the public engagement portion of this project, the findings and data were synthesized and delivered as a detailed report to the North Carolina Pork Producers (NCPP) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Read more >

Related articles:

Livestream on NC State Mediasite

Now Accepting ApplicationsAgBioFEWS icon

AgBioFEWS, or Agricultural Biotechnology in our evolving Food, Energy, and Water Systems, our interdisciplinary Ph.D. program is now accepting applications for the fall 2020 cohort. Please contact program coordinator Dawn Rodriguez-Ward at dtward2@ncsu.edu with any questions. 

Event

Sir Charles Godfray
LECTURE

Can We Feed the World Without Wrecking the Environment?

Monday, January 13, 7 – 8:30 pm, Hunt Library Auditorium
 

Register on Eventbrite

Sir Charles Godfray is the Hope Professor of Zoology at Oxford University, and Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food, whose work examines how the global food system will need to change and adapt to the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. In 2010 he authored a paper, “Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People,” in the journal Science that has been cited over 6,000 times. Many of his more recent papers on the subject dig deeper into this subject.

We can now imagine a future where humanity’s demands of the earth plateau or even decrease. But at that plateau there will be billions more people needing to be fed than exist today. Professor Godfray’s talk will argue that it is possible to feed this number of people without despoiling the environment, but only if we make hard decisions today.

Following prepared remarks, Chancellor Randy Woodson will then lead a discussion with Professor Godfray.

Presented in collaboration with the Genetics and Genomic Initiative at NC State and the Society for Risk Analysis.

Publications

SynBio 2020 book cover
BOOK

Synthetic Biology 2020: Frontiers in Risk Analysis and Governance

Trump, B. D., Cummings, C. L., Kuzma, J. & Linkov, I. (2020). Springer, Cham.

Synthetic biology is a technology with incredible promise yet equally galling uncertainty. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity defines synthetic biology as “biotechnology that combines science, technology, and engineering to facilitate and accelerate the understanding, design, redesign, manufacture, and/or modification of genetic materials, living organisms, and biological systems.”

CHAPTERS

Genetic Engineering and Society

Barnes, J., Pitts, E., Barnhill-Dilling, S., & Delborne, J.. (2019) In T. Pittinsky (Ed.), Science, Technology, and Society: New Perspectives and Directions (pp. 203-233). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316691489.009. Published: November 2019.

Economic Principles and Concepts in Area-Wide Genetic Pest Management

Zachary Brown, Mike Jones, John Mumford. (2019) Economic Principles and Concepts in Area-Wide Genetic Pest Management. Eds. Onstad, D. W., & Crain, P. in The Economics of Integrated Pest Management of Insects. (pp. 96-121) CABI. doi: 10.1079/9781786393678.0096. Published: 18 September 2019. CALS News

Website Website
@GESCenterNCSU @GESCenterNCSU
YouTube YouTube