Team:Brown-Stanford/SynEthics/Videos/JimHead

From 2011.igem.org

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Raymond McCauley is Chair of the Biotechnology Track and faculty at Singularity University, Chief Science Officer at Genomera. His interests include genomic medicine, DIYbio, the citizen science movement, and the future of humanity.
 
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(0:06) '''How should we address the human practices of synthetic biology?'''
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Dr. Jim Head is Louis and Elizabeth Scherck Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences at Brown University. He is a prominent planetary scientist who has worked on NASA mission planning since the Apollo program. He currently studies processes that form and modify the surfaces, crusts and lithospheres of planets.
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Mr. McCauley states the importance of communicating biology with the public, the ethical imperative to continue developing synthetic biology, and the need to plan for the future.
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(0:06) '''Why is it important to settle in space?''' <br>
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Dr. Head alludes to the inevitability of existential threats as an argument for settling space.
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(4:17) '''Humans, synthetic biology, and a changing Earth'''
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(0:32) '''Keeping in mind the impact of settlement'''<br>
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Dr. Head urges caution in the environmental impact of settlement, given our own history. However, synthetic biology may be a way of minimizing environmental impact.
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On the relationship between humans and the environment, Mr. McCauley notes that we live in an ecosystem, and that there are adverse phenomena that we must take responsibility for. We cannot simply say that we will modify life to our changed environment; rather, we have a responsibility as conservators on this planet.
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(1:40) '''What is the risk of contamination to the Martian environment?'''<br>
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Dr. Head believes that we will likely resolve the question of risk before arriving on Mars. Contamination must not be introduced because a pristine planet represents an ideal laboratory for scientists. He acknowledges the limitation of even the best sterilization efforts.
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(3:09) '''On the topic of terraforming'''<br>
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Dr. Head proposes we instead think in terms of coexisting with the Martian environment.
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He believes that altering fundamental macro processes in nature, on Mars and on Earth, is a risky endeavor.
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(4:50) '''Do you think synthetic biology will change how space exploration is done?'''<br>
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Dr. Head believes that synthetic biology has immense potential beyond our conception, even within the next ten years.
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(6:07) '''What would you say to the next generation of scientists and synthetic biologists?'''<br>
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Dr. Head recalls his own experiences during the Space Race and the leap of progress within decades. Looking at synthetic biology, we can only rely on our imaginations to chart the course for the future.
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(5:50) '''What do you want to say to synthetic biologists about the future?'''
 
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Synthetic biology will change the world during this next century in a way never before seen. Mr. McCauley describes the impact of this rapid transformation in the whole timescale of life and urges us to do good.
 
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Latest revision as of 00:47, 29 September 2011

The Ethics of Synthetic Biology and the Settlement of Space

Dr. Jim Head is Louis and Elizabeth Scherck Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences at Brown University. He is a prominent planetary scientist who has worked on NASA mission planning since the Apollo program. He currently studies processes that form and modify the surfaces, crusts and lithospheres of planets.

(0:06) Why is it important to settle in space?
Dr. Head alludes to the inevitability of existential threats as an argument for settling space.

(0:32) Keeping in mind the impact of settlement
Dr. Head urges caution in the environmental impact of settlement, given our own history. However, synthetic biology may be a way of minimizing environmental impact.

(1:40) What is the risk of contamination to the Martian environment?
Dr. Head believes that we will likely resolve the question of risk before arriving on Mars. Contamination must not be introduced because a pristine planet represents an ideal laboratory for scientists. He acknowledges the limitation of even the best sterilization efforts.

(3:09) On the topic of terraforming
Dr. Head proposes we instead think in terms of coexisting with the Martian environment. He believes that altering fundamental macro processes in nature, on Mars and on Earth, is a risky endeavor.

(4:50) Do you think synthetic biology will change how space exploration is done?
Dr. Head believes that synthetic biology has immense potential beyond our conception, even within the next ten years.

(6:07) What would you say to the next generation of scientists and synthetic biologists?
Dr. Head recalls his own experiences during the Space Race and the leap of progress within decades. Looking at synthetic biology, we can only rely on our imaginations to chart the course for the future.