SynBioWatch

  • East Bay Conversations: The Promises and Perils of Biotechnology

    East Bay Conversations: The Promises and Perils of Biotechnology

    East Bay Conversations: The Promises and Perils of Synthetic Biology is a series of public lectures beginning March 21 at the David Brower Center in Berkeley to give in-depth attention to the many faces and facets of the current state of biotechnology. From attempts to revolutionize the energy sector, to dreams of human perfection, to creating modular molecules for endless cultural and agricultural applications, the promises of synthetic biology are profoundly alluring — but the perils are a potential Pandora’s box of private patents, pandemics and plagues.

  • San Diego to Host Pacific Rim Summit on Biotech and Bioenergy

    Twelve years ago, a biotech conference in San Diego drew thousands of protesters, during a peak of activity challenging corporate patents on life and the cynical smokescreen of pro-poor policies and ‘feeding the world.’ Now, as global trade regimes have further concentrated and biotech has consolidated its role as a keystone industry not just in […]

  • Laugh or Cry? Obama’s New Commitment on Climate Change

    By Rachel Smolker, cross-posted from Huffington Post In his inaugural address, President Obama spoke eloquently about his intent to address climate change, saying: “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.” Following on, the right-wing deniers predictably flew into a frenzy […]

  • LBNL opens comment period for Richmond Bay Campus: Jan 4-Feb 4

    While this announcement in the Richmond Confidential suggests that Bay Area residents might want to consider wildlife and birds, noise pollution and new traffic as they weigh in on the proposed second campus of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, here at synbiowatch, we’re quite a bit more concerned about bio-hazardous material, leakage of artificial organisms, worker safety, and […]

  • CDC reports 11 US biolab workers infected with dangerous pathogens from 2004-10; no deaths

    By Associated Press, cross-posted from Washington Post HAGERSTOWN, Md. — At least 11 workers at U.S. biological laboratories were infected with dangerous pathogens from 2004 to 2010, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday in a report on security measures stemming from the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks. None of the infected workers died. […]

  • Bay Area Alert!: LBNL opens comment period for Richmond Bay Campus: Jan 4-Feb 4

    Bay Area Alert!: LBNL opens comment period for Richmond Bay Campus: Jan 4-Feb 4

    LBNL has opened comment period for Richmond Bay Campus: Jan 4-Feb 4. Read and download the notice of preparation, here : http://richmondbaycampus.lbl.gov/assets/docs/env/RBC_LRDP_EIR_NOP.pdf NOTE: A public scoping meeting for the Environmental Impact Review will be held from 7:00-9:00 PM on January 23, 2013 at the Richmond City Council Chambers, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. The US Department of […]

  • Harmful algae blooms increase as water warms in the world’s major lakes

    By Erica Rex, E&E correspondent, cross-posted from E&E News Tuesday, January 8, 2013 – The warming waters of one of central Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, Switzerland’s Lake Zurich, have created an ideal environment for a population explosion of algae including Planktothrix rubescens, a toxic cyanobacterium. It has the potential to harm humans, animals and […]

  • Safety survey reveals lab risks

    An international poll provides a lens into lab workers’ attitudes to workplace welfare.

  • The Fiscal Cliff Resolution Could Give Solazyme A Boost

    Note: This analysis from Seeking Alpha reveals what could be a significant step toward consolidating federal support for the bioeconomy:  The “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012” expands the definition of “cellulosic biofuel” for the purposes of the Cellulosic Biofuel Producers Tax Credit to explicitly include biofuels from microalgae and cyanobacteria. Additionally, the legislation replaces […]

  • Appeals court backs scientist in Pfizer retaliation case

    Note: Microbiologist Becky McClain, infected by a genetically engineered virus in a Pfizer lab, became the first whistleblower in the nation to try to shed light on the threats of biotechnology to workers and the public. Now, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, has validated her claims that Pfizer “acted willfully, […]