The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology

Permanent URI for this community

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/118545

Browse

Browsing The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology by Author "Astolfi, Maria"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    6.9 NGL Proposal for Spirit of Asilomar Fund
    (Rice University, 2025) Perez, Rolando; Chappell, Callie; Flores, Wari Nkwi; Lopez, Andrea Isabel; Johnson, Alicia; Kiattisewee, Cholpisit; Zimmerman, Elise; Elcock, Leon B.; Emanuel, Kato Sebunya; Chavez, Maria; Rath, Shrestha; Lardner, Casey; Zolnier, Cibele; Palmer, Xavier-Lewis; Astolfi, Maria; Seah, Adeline
    This entreaty is a call to ensure biotechnology is a tool for global flourishing by establishing the Spirit of Asilomar Fund. Fear caused the 1975 Asilomar meeting to build barriers that ultimately hindered the transformative potential of biotechnologies to enable global flourishing. The 2025 Spirit of Asilomar Summit emphasized that we are at a critical juncture for Biotechnology. The Summit revealed a continued fear of Biotechnology amongst the general public and a growing lack of trust between the public and biotechnologists. Biotechnology as a tool for global flourishing is only possible by considering its cultural, ecological, political, and historical contexts. The research enterprise must empower all people, not just some, to unlock Biotechnology's transformative power. To nurture these interdisciplinary biotechnological futures, we propose the establishment of a Spirit of Asilomar Fund. The Spirit of Asilomar Fund will support the transition to transform the Biotechnology enterprise towards rights- and community-based, interdisciplinary, and culturally-centered approaches to Biotechnology innovation and governance. Our overall goal is to foster the sustained, responsible and mindful development of biotechnologies for global benefit.