Power and responsibility

Abstract

Peter Parker and Uncle Ben are on my mind. The reason is that is that a month ago I was jumped by Craig Venter. There were TV cameras around. The live audience was an interesting, edgy mix, on the interface between "technology", meaning computer technology, and culture/ media/ journalism; I had just given a closely prepared talk on the history, promises, and perils of biology, 20 minutes from solar system formation to origin of life to photosynthesis to agriculture to Asilomar to now; and I had paid particular attention to the existing threat from remade and lightly engineered viruses, and the various technology-empowered approaches that could contribute to a defense against unpredictable viral and bacterial pathogens. The whole set of ways the defense strategy needs to shift.