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The ACGT and the CSIR recently hosted the first Regional
Synthetic Biology Forum. The event was held on the 21st of August 2011
at the CSIR Knowledge Commons and was graciously sponsored by Inqaba
Biotec.
The event attracted attendance from all ACGT partner
institutions, as well as representation from the DST and MINTEK. With
75 delegates in attendance, the proceedings were also streamed to a
live audience. The forum served to introduce the broader scientific
community to the emerging research area of Synthetic Biology and
current research activities in this area at CSIR and WITS.
The proceedings started with a welcome by Dr Raymond Sparrow (CSIR).
Invited speakers included: Prof Marco Weinberg (WITS), Dr Musa Mhlanga
(CSIR), Prof Anne Grobler (NWU), Prof Julian Kinderlerer (UCT and
Delft) and members of the Wits/CSIR international Genetically
Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition team of 2011. The keynote address
was given by Prof Kinderlerer on the Ethics considerations of Synthetic
Biology. Prof Weinberg and Dr Mhlanga provided background on the area
of synthetic biology and gave a brief rundown on the work being
undertaken at WITS and the CSIR respectively. Other topics covered
included the South African BioDesign Initiative (SABDI, Prof Grobler)
and the iGEM competition. The iGEM team gave a brief presentation on
their project, activities and public appearances around iGEM this year.
The event was concluded with a tour of the Synthetic Biology ERA
facilities at the CSIR.
With active engagement and participation between the
audience and presenters, the forum set the scene for the next
instalment, which is promised to be filled with current research
findings and outputs emanating from synthetic biology projects
currently underway in the region. The next forum will be held in early
2012.
View the recorded talks from the Forum:
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Prof Marco Weinberg, Prof Ane
Grobler, Prof Julian Kinderlerer and Dr Musa Mhlanga (from left to
right)
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Ms Henriette
Hobbs, Prof Marco Weinberg, Dr Samantha Barichievy and Ms Robyn Brackin (from left
to right) |
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Dr Musa Mhlanga (2nd from left) with members of the biophysics and gene expression group (CSIR)
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