May 25, 2016
Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Leibniz-Saal
Markgrafenstraße 38
10117 Berlin
Synthetic biology has been heralded as an exciting new field which will allow a deeper knowledge on how living systems “work.” Synthetic biologists extensively manipulate organisms at the DNA level. It even seems possible nowadays to bring lost-lost species such as the woolly mammoth back to life from recovered DNA samples. The xenobiologists go even further, aiming to create artificial life from synthetic chemicals instead of natural DNA. Such new biologies promise groundbreaking solutions to pressing global problems. However, these possibilities have raised concern about their future environmental and societal impact and how they might change the way we think about life, biodiversity, and evolution. On May 25, 2016, an interdisciplinary Science & Society Session at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) will bring together renowned experts from xenobiology and the philosophy of the life sciences to explore these and other matters of humanly-created life.
The event is open to the public and part of XB2 – 2nd Conference on Xenobiology (May 24–26, 2016, BBAW). The Ernst Schering Stiftung supports the conference through its Science & Society Sessions program, since it promotes the dialogue between science and society on possible applications of xenobiology.
On the occasion of the Science & Society Session, the Schering Stiftung will present its (German-language) publication “Evolution in Menschenhand. Synthetische Biologie aus Labor und Atelier” (Evolution Made by Man: Synthetic Biology in the Lab and the Studio).
Science & Society Session
The Future of Life Is Synthetic: The Promises of Xenobiology
May 25, 2016, 6:00–7:30pm
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Leibniz Hall
Markgrafenstrasse 38 | 10117 Berlin
Introduction: Bernd Müller-Röber, University of Potsdam
Guests: Philippe Marlière, Philipp Holliger, Heiner Fangerau, and Markus Schmidt
Moderated by Kai Kupferschmidt, science journalist
In English | Admission free | Registration not required
Organized by the projects “Gene Technology Report” and “Leibniz: The Task of Visions” of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) and XB2.
If you have any further questions, please contact IAG Gene Technology Report.
This Project is realized in cooperation with the following partners:
Unter den Linden 32-34
10117 Berlin
Telefon: +49.30.20 62 29 62
Email: info@scheringstiftung.de
Thursday to Monday: 1 pm - 7 pm
Saturday to Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm
free entrance