Key Takeaways
- The Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy will launch its Biopolicy Initiative on October 14, 2025.
- Keynote speaker Drew Endy will discuss the implications of synthetic biology for policy and society.
- The initiative includes workshops, research funding, and internships to bridge science and policy in biotechnology.
Formal Launch of Biopolicy Initiative
The Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Science, Society, and Policy (LCSSP) is set to launch its Biopolicy Initiative on October 14, 2025. President Tom Rosenbaum will introduce the initiative, followed by remarks from Mary Maxon, executive vice president of Carnegie Sciences. The event will feature a keynote address by Drew Endy, a prominent figure in synthetic biology and a Hoover Institution Science Fellow.
Endy, also the Martin Family University Faculty Fellow in Undergraduate Education at Stanford, has played a pivotal role in the development of undergraduate bioengineering programs at institutions like MIT and Stanford and has contributed to the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition. A local high school team recently won “best model” at iGEM 2024 for their innovative work on enzymes targeting PFAS—known as “forever chemicals.” Endy’s address will focus on “Biology as a Cultural, Political, & Strategic Domain.”
The Biopolicy Initiative aims to address the societal implications of rapid advancements in biotechnology through a framework established by LCSSP, which also focuses on climate and sustainability as well as artificial intelligence. Frederick Eberhardt, co-director of LCSSP, emphasizes that the initiative’s objectives will create a platform for engaging with the regulatory aspects of emerging biological technologies.
The initiative has been funded by Ronald and Maxine Linde and Eric and Wendy Schmidt, with a five-year plan comprising three interconnected programs.
The first program includes a series of science policy workshops designed to foster dialogue among scientists, regulators, and industry stakeholders. The inaugural workshop, held in October 2025 at Caltech, tackled the governance of biotechnologies beyond traditional containment methods.
The second program will provide seed funding for research that addresses policy-relevant scientific questions. R. Michael Alvarez, another co-director of LCSSP, clarifies that these research projects will yield critical insights for developing sound policies regarding environmental risks and impacts.
Finally, the initiative offers internships for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to work within government agencies and NGOs, allowing them to observe the interaction between scientific research and regulatory frameworks.
Ron Linde, vice-chair emeritus of the Caltech Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Schmidt Foundation and highlighted the leadership of Eberhardt and Alvarez in making this initiative a reality. The launch event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Dabney Hall Lounge, and all campus members are invited to attend.
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