In May 2025, Sciencewise and the British Science Association hosted a roundtable on the role of public dialogue in shaping the future of engineering biology.
Bringing together representatives from government, academia, funding bodies, civil society and industry, the discussion focused on how engagement can support responsible development of this rapidly evolving field. Attendees included the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the House of Lords, the Food Standards Agency, Wellcome, ESRC, and several UK universities.
As one of the UK’s five critical technologies, engineering biology has the potential to address major challenges in areas like health, food systems, materials and energy. But as with all transformative technologies, its development must be aligned with public values and concerns.
Key messages from the discussion included:
- Engineering biology has developed as an overarching ‘brand’ term for a range of technologies, research and innovation areas with transformative potential, however their social impacts are likely to vary across different contexts.
- A more balanced approach to public engagement could be valuable. Many current dialogues are framed around risk, which can sometimes be counterproductive. Rather than always presenting the public with a problem, some participants suggested pairing these conversations with discussions about potential benefits and opportunities.
- It’s important to understand who the trusted voices are within communities, and how best to involve them in conversations about science and technology. In many cases, effective community engagement may rely less on high-profile figures and more on local brokers with established trust and connections, such as faith leaders, school staff or library representatives.
- There is a need for a more coordinated and sustained system of public dialogue. Instead of one-off or reactive engagement, the focus should be on building ongoing, interconnected conversations around engineering biology and other emerging technologies. This approach requires long-term investment and should be properly supported through dedicated funding.
- Public engagement should span all levels, from broad ethical considerations to the specific applications of technologies, instead of focusing on headline issues or ‘hot topics’. The sector also needs to improve how it demonstrates that public input can meaningfully influence research and innovation.
The full summary of the discussion is available to download below:
What is the role of public opinion in shaping engineering biology research and policy?
