Prof. Wendy Rogers1, Dr Mianna Lotz1, Mr Matthew Petersen1,2, Professor Stacy Carter3
1ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, , Australia, 2Philosophy Department, Macquarie University, , Australia, 3ACHEEV, University of Wollongong, , Australia
Biography:
Bio to come
Abstract:
Prospective applications of new and emerging technologies, such as synthetic biology (synbio), pose potential risks to humans and their environments. Adequately foreseeing and addressing these potential risks requires epistemic humility, values pluralism and responsiveness to relevant sociocultural contexts. However, traditional risk assessments largely focus on quantitative estimates of a limited range of isolated harms. In response, we propose a modified version of Sven Ove Hansson's ethical risk analysis (eRA) for assessing the risks of new technologies, using the example of synbio. The eRA provides a values pluralistic methodology for anticipating and identifying the ethical implications of risks posed by new technologies.
Introduction (5 min)
Prof Carter
Prof Rogers: Ethics and risk in synbio (10 min)
Synthetic biology is an emerging technology that that promises significant benefits by engineering microbes to perform useful functions. However, synbio is risky. Current approaches to synbio risk draw on established quantitative and qualitative approaches to risk, providing an abstract and limited view of the synbio risk landscape.
Mr Petersen: Case study in ethical risk analysis (10 min)
Hansson’s ethical risk analysis (eRA) provides a structured method for comprehensively identifying risk-related ethical issues. The first step identifies relevant decision-making contexts across the development and deployment of an innovation. Next, the analysis maps relationships between stakeholders affected by risks and applies a pluralistic normative framework that includes weighing benefits and harms and their distribution, and examining rights and power.
A/Prof Lotz: The challenges and benefits of the eRA (10 min)
The eRA model offers several advantages over current approaches to assessing the risks of new technologies. However, there are challenges in determining the boundaries of a risk context and in selecting the right degree of granularity for the analysis. Despite the challenges, the eRA offers a useful tool for risk-assessing innovations.
Prof Carter: Facilitated discussion (20 min)