"Sandpit" to address grand challenge topics in synthetic biology

该奖项将用于支持参加合成生物学“沙坑”活动的美国科学家，该活动将于2009年3月29日至4月3日在弗吉尼亚州沃伦顿的艾利会议中心举行。合成生物学领域正处于其许多生物工具、分析方法和工程技术正在开发的阶段；然而，其广泛的概念框架以及总体目标、挑战和项目仍未确定。这个研讨会的目的是召集一群来自美国和英国的生命、物理和社会科学家(从公开征集参与者的申请中挑选出来)，他们的兴趣和当前的工作涵盖合成生物学的广泛领域。通过结合这些参与者的不同观点和专业知识，为期5天的“沙坑”的最终目标是集体确定合成生物学研究人员面临的关键挑战和问题，并规划该领域未来几年的主要方向和潜在的资助领域。更广泛的影响沙坑活动预计将促进这一新兴科学努力领域内的国际和跨学科合作。为社会科学与生物学、工程学、数学和物理等核心领域建立联系创造机会将是这项活动的一个特别重要的方面。

This award will be used to support the participating scientists from the United States in a Synthetic Biology "Sandpit", which will be held at Airlie Conference Center in Warrenton, Virginia from March 29 through April 3, 2009. The field of Synthetic Biology is at a stage where many of its biological tools, analytical methods engineering technologies are being developed; however, much of its broad conceptual framework as well as its overarching goals, challenges and projects remain undefined. The purpose of this workshop is to assemble a group of life, physical and social scientists from the United States and Great Britain (selected from applications submitted to an open call for participants) whose interests and current work encompass the broad field of Synthetic Biology. By combining the diverse outlooks and expertise of these participants, the ultimate goal of the 5-day "sandpit" is to collectively identify the key challenges and questions facing researchers in Synthetic Biology, and to chart the major directions and potential funding areas of the field for the coming years. Broader impact The sandpit activity is expected to foster international and interdisciplinary collaborations within this emerging area of scientific endeavor. The creation of opportunities for interfacing the social sciences with core areas of biology, engineering and the math and physical sciences will be an especially important aspect of this activity.