2.1 Condemning & Making Obsolete Biological Weapons

Abstract

This entreaty from the 2025 Asilomar conference condemns the development, stockpiling, and use of biological weapons. It is a call to the global community to recognize risks, capabilities, and our responsibilities, as modern biology and emerging technologies underpin both the security and betterment of our shared future. The Biological Weapons Convention enshrines the norm against malicious uses of biology, while robust detection, attribution, and response are the capabilities to erode the operational effectiveness of bioweapons and render them ultimately obsolete. Achieving this goal depends on these capabilities being resourced, deployed, and broadly accessible alongside support for rapid design and manufacturing of countermeasures and for the scientific advances that can positively shape the world. This entreaty also represents the view of Asilomar participants that a world free of biological weapons is an international pursuit.

Description
Developed from discussions hosted by the Pathogens and Bioweapons Theme group at the Spirit of Asilomar.
This entreaty was created as part of The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology summit (February 23-26, 2025) in Pacific Grove, CA.
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Weber, A., Parthemore, C., & Wentzel, J. (2025). 2.1 Condemning & Making Obsolete Biological Weapons. Rice University. https://doi.org/10.25611/VKVQ-DY95

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Attribution 4.0 International
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