Biological Futures in a Globalized World

An initiative of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) and the University of Washington

The 20th century and first years of the 21st have been characterized by staggering increases in biological knowledge, and by increasing worldwide use of that knowledge to manipulate and build living systems. The mandate of the Center for Biological Futures, founded Spring 2011 at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is to foster better thinking about the present and future impacts of these continuing developments on human events.

The range of important, emerging issues that need attention include:

• the risks associated with expanded public access to engineered biological organisms
• the impact of human manipulation of the biosphere for food and fuel
• responses to infectious disease
• the implications of advances in understanding genome sequence and reproductive technology

All have global impact on our lives and environments, on human identity, and on human relationships with the rest of the living world.

Over the next two years the Center for Biological Futures will undertake a cluster of interdisciplinary projects in partnership with the Simpson Center for the Humanities designed to lay the groundwork for a sustained program of rigorous research and innovative training that will advance our understanding of these complex issues. These include:

• a research consortium in the summers of 2011 and 2012
• a biweekly colloquium series and visiting speakers
• graduate seminars on biological futures topics
• a resource survey and program of curriculum development on research integrity
• an integrated science, technology, society studies web portal project.

Learn more about the Biological Futures Fellows.