Moving Workshop in Synthetic Biology to be held in Boston, Metro DC and San Francisco from November 6-13, 2012

智能合成生物学是一个相对较新的领域，它位于生物学和工程学的交叉点上，从业者使用工程工具和系统方法来设计新的生物系统，包括基因电路和整个细胞，用这些系统来探索复杂生物过程背后的支配原理，或开发可以利用的新功能。鉴于科学的全球性日益增强，来自世界不同地区的顶尖研究人员之间的交流变得越来越重要。研讨会将于2012年11月6日至7日在马萨诸塞州波士顿开始，然后于11月8日至9日移师弗吉尼亚州阿灵顿，11月12日至13日在旧金山结束。这次研讨会将汇集来自欧洲的顶尖科学家和政策制定者，以及美国合成生物学研究领域最好的实践者；合成生物学转化为市场的最好的创新者；来自美国各种基金和政府机构的代表和政策制定者，讨论与合成生物学相关的投资、需求和关切。欧盟代表团将会见三个城市的领先创新者和公司：银杏生物工场(马萨诸塞州波士顿)、J.克雷格·文特尔研究所(马里兰州银泉)、艾米里斯(加利福尼亚州埃默里维尔)和重构材料公司(加利福尼亚州旧金山)。这四家公司代表着合成生物学的不同翻译模式。这次会议的总体目标是：(1)从资助机构、研究人员和公司的角度，相互通报当前和未来与合成生物学研究有关的活动；(2)讨论合成生物学技术的翻译潜力以及相关的挑战和关注；(3)探索教育需求，以确保合成生物学领域的一支训练有素和负责任的劳动力队伍；(4)评估合作的共同点和机会，并考虑国际范围内的标准和储存库、社会和生态关切等问题。广泛影响研讨会将通过将欧盟研究人员和美国研究人员的领导小组以及来自不同成员国的资助者和政策制定者及其美国同行聚集在一起，为加强和改进科学、工程和/或教育活动做出贡献。此外，这次会议将为美国和欧洲的研究人员之间的国际合作奠定基础。研讨会主席是合成生物学领域的领军人物，其中一名是女性。此外，讲习班领导人还考虑将早期职业科学家和代表性不足的少数群体纳入这次讲习班。在包括在内的美国科学家中，20人中有7人是女性，20人中有2人是非裔美国人。合成生物学领域相当年轻，但科学家中有国家科学院和霍华德·休斯医学研究所的成员。最后，会议召集人将编写一份报告，分发给与会者和赞助组织(国家科学基金会和欧盟委员会)，并将在sys-Bio.org上向公众公布。

Intellectual MeritSynthetic Biology is a relatively new field that sits at the intersection of biology and engineering, where practitioners use engineering tools and systems approaches to design novel biological systems, including genetic circuits and whole cells, with which to explore governing principles behind complex biological processes or to develop new functionalities that can be exploited. Given the increasing global nature of science, exchanges between leading researchers from different areas of the world are becoming increasingly important. The workshop will begin in Boston, MA on November 6-7, 2012, then move to Arlington, VA, Nov 8-9 and conclude in San Francisco Nov 12-13. This workshop will bring together leading scientists and policy makers from Europe with the best US practitioners in synthetic biology research; the best innovators in the translation of synthetic biology to the market place; representatives and policy makers from various US funding and governmental agencies to discuss investments, needs and concerns related to Synthetic Biology. The EU delegation will meet with leading innovators and companies in three cities, Ginkgo Bioworks (Boston, MA), J. Craig Venter Institute (Silver Spring, MD), Amyris (Emeryville, CA) and Refactored Materials (San Francisco, CA). These four companies represent different models for translation of synthetic biology. The overarching goals of this meeting are to:(1) Inform one another on current and future activities related to the synthetic biology research from the perspective of the funding agencies, researchers and companies;(2) Discuss the translational potential, as well as the challenges and concerns associated with synthetic biology technologies;(3) Explore the educational needs to ensure a well-trained and responsible workforce in the area of synthetic biology;(4) Assess common ground and opportunities to collaborate and consider issues such as standards and repositories, societal and ecological concerns on an international scale.Broader ImpactsThe workshop will contribute to the enhancement and improvement of scientific, engineering and/or educational activities by bringing together a leading group of European Union researchers and US researchers along with funders and policy makers from various member countries and their US counterparts. In addition, this meeting will provide the foundation for international collaborations between researchers in the US and Europe. The workshop chairs are leaders in the field of synthetic biology, with one being female. In addition, the workshop leaders have taken into the consideration the inclusion of early career scientists and underrepresented minorities in this workshop. Of the US scientists included, 7 out of 20 are women, and 2 out of 20 are African American. The synthetic biology field is rather young but among the scientists are members of the National Academy and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Finally, the meeting conveners will produce a report that will be distributed to the participants and sponsoring organizations (NSF and EC) and will be posted for the public on sys-bio.org.