The Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice at the University of Kent announces a major publication of the ARIA-funded Futuring Biological Commons<\/i> project,:<\/p>\n
Pritchard Moore, O., Little, J., & Rylott, E. L. (2026) <\/b>Relational Map of Plant Synthetic Biology in the UK (First Edition)<\/i><\/a>, Canterbury: Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice. <\/i>DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5281\/zenodo.19291106<\/a><\/p>\n This publication is a transdisciplinary, multi-centre collaboration between Dr. Oliver Prichard Moore (sociologist, University of Kent), Julian Little (science communicator, Julian Little Communications) and Liz Rylott (plant scientist, University of York) . It is also informed by in-depth consultation with stakeholders.<\/p>\n The first edition organises the UK landscape of plant synthetic biology around four key themes:<\/p>\n 1. Historical trajectories: <\/b>The field is shaped as much by its past as its future. From recombinant DNA debates to contemporary gene editing, current developments are entangled with longstanding societal concerns\u2014especially those surrounding GMOs.<\/p>\n 2. Expanding stakeholder networks: <\/b>The ecosystem is growing more complex. Relationships between actors vary in \u201cthickness\u201d\u2014informed by shared knowledge, resources, trust, and authority\u2014and these dynamics actively shape influence and decision-making.<\/p>\n 3. Dynamic concerns: <\/b>Ethical, environmental, economic, and regulatory concerns are not static. They shift over time, overlap across communities, and evolve alongside scientific developments.<\/p>\n 4. A call for collective reflection: <\/b>The report culminates in a resources framework linking funding, skills, and responsible innovation. It invites critique and collaboration to explore key questions on (a) reconciling past and future genetic technologies, (b) identifying new and overlooked stakeholders, (c) cultivating necessary new alliances, and (d) developing mutually enriching forms of public, scientific, and policy engagement.<\/p>\n Plant synthetic biology in the UK is advancing rapidly\u2014but its trajectory is shaped as much by relationships as by technologies.<\/p>\n As outline by the project lead Joy Y. Zhang in the Preface, this report introduces a relational mapping approach<\/b>: not simply charting developments in science and policy, but making visible how connections between stakeholders\u2014scientists, policymakers, industry, farming communities, and publics\u2014shape how the field evolves.<\/p>\n Thus the Relational Map is not just a document but also an exploration of method. It will be updated annually<\/b>, and its development is itself part of the project\u2019s approach: a way of building attentiveness to how relationships shape both opportunities and tensions in emerging science. The project also keeps open what a \u201crelational map\u201d can be\u2014visual or otherwise\u2014and invites critique, participation, and reinterpretation.<\/p>\n Read the report<\/b><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5281\/zenodo.19291106<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/h4>\n
What the report<\/a> does<\/b><\/h4>\n
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A map\u2014and a method<\/b><\/h4>\n