Abstract:Managing pest vertebrate species in Australia is a significant challenge for government, industry, research sectors and land-managers. Innovative tools such as genetic biocontrol offers decision-makers a potentially effective means of reducing the impact of pest species incursions. To determine the conditions for investment in genetic biocontrol, we applied qualitative engagement methodologies to identify and integrate existing knowledge of pest species research and management in Australia. Two facilitated wor… Show more
“…While all interviewees in the sample considered social acceptability a key issue, there was considerable nuance observed in how to best tackle the challenge of public engagement – a finding also recently published by de Graeff et al. [ 32 ] and Carter et al., [ 18 ] , [ 32 ] . In our sample, Australian government representatives voiced an interest in learning more about current Australian attitudes to genetic technologies, acknowledging historical attitudes were not necessarily reflective of contemporary Australia.…”
Section: Case Studies – Resultsmentioning
confidence: 70%
“…This finding aligns with recent research investigating the conditions for investment in genetic biocontrol options for pest vertebrates amongst key decision‐makers in Australia. [ 18 ] “ The public perception is that these are Frankenstein methods.” [RES‐T2] “There's been no reduction in concerns by the public about GM that I've seen. In my social circles, there is suspicion of genetic engineering scientists.” [GOV‐T1] “The public will receive a gene tech solution badly.…”
Section: Case Studies – Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This sentiment was also identified amongst Australian NGO stakeholders in separate workshops convened by the first two authors in collaboration with colleagues. [ 18 ]…”
Section: Case Studies – Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…While this narrative is slowly shifting, it has influenced investor appetite for exploratory research into novel genetic pest management tools by feeding into existing hesitancy in relation to perceived potential public outrage. [18] Targeted and consistent upstream engagement appears to be an important next step in successfully involving various publics in discussing the feasibility and acceptability of gene editing cane toads.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This finding aligns with recent research investigating the conditions for investment in genetic biocontrol options for pest vertebrates amongst key decision-makers in Australia. [18] "The public perception is that these are Frankenstein meth-…”
Synthetic biology [synbio] applications have the potential to assist in addressing significant global health and environmental challenges. Australian research institutes are investing in formative research to develop synbio technologies capable of meeting these challenges. Alongside the laboratory research, investigating the broader social, institutional, and ethical considerations that synbio presents has been a priority. We conducted targeted qualitative research to uncover the barriers and opportunities for a range of multisectoral stakeholders identified as potential end-users of the science under development. The research provides insights into the research implementation environment for three synthetic biology applications: (1) gene editing cane toads (Rhinella marina) to reduce their environmental impact; (2) engineering bacteriophages to combat antimicrobial resistance in humans; and (3) engineering microbes to improve biomining efficiency in the mining industry. In-depth interviews (N = 23) with government, research and civil society representatives revealed key challenges in the impact pathway for each application. The strongest themes uncovered during interviews related to perceived negative public attitudes towards genetic technologies, a lack of investment in critical research infrastructure, unclear regulatory pathways and the presence of a strong social and environmental imperative underpinning technology development. These findings reveal specific entry points for further engagement with the most immediate end-users of synbio. Separate from research on public attitudes to synbio, the cases highlight the various hurdles to achieving research impact, according to experts who will likely use, approve or invest in these applications in the future. The themes uncovered inform avenues for strengthening engagement and research coordination in Australia and elsewhere.
“…While all interviewees in the sample considered social acceptability a key issue, there was considerable nuance observed in how to best tackle the challenge of public engagement – a finding also recently published by de Graeff et al. [ 32 ] and Carter et al., [ 18 ] , [ 32 ] . In our sample, Australian government representatives voiced an interest in learning more about current Australian attitudes to genetic technologies, acknowledging historical attitudes were not necessarily reflective of contemporary Australia.…”
Section: Case Studies – Resultsmentioning
confidence: 70%
“…This finding aligns with recent research investigating the conditions for investment in genetic biocontrol options for pest vertebrates amongst key decision‐makers in Australia. [ 18 ] “ The public perception is that these are Frankenstein methods.” [RES‐T2] “There's been no reduction in concerns by the public about GM that I've seen. In my social circles, there is suspicion of genetic engineering scientists.” [GOV‐T1] “The public will receive a gene tech solution badly.…”
Section: Case Studies – Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This sentiment was also identified amongst Australian NGO stakeholders in separate workshops convened by the first two authors in collaboration with colleagues. [ 18 ]…”
Section: Case Studies – Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…While this narrative is slowly shifting, it has influenced investor appetite for exploratory research into novel genetic pest management tools by feeding into existing hesitancy in relation to perceived potential public outrage. [18] Targeted and consistent upstream engagement appears to be an important next step in successfully involving various publics in discussing the feasibility and acceptability of gene editing cane toads.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…This finding aligns with recent research investigating the conditions for investment in genetic biocontrol options for pest vertebrates amongst key decision-makers in Australia. [18] "The public perception is that these are Frankenstein meth-…”
Synthetic biology [synbio] applications have the potential to assist in addressing significant global health and environmental challenges. Australian research institutes are investing in formative research to develop synbio technologies capable of meeting these challenges. Alongside the laboratory research, investigating the broader social, institutional, and ethical considerations that synbio presents has been a priority. We conducted targeted qualitative research to uncover the barriers and opportunities for a range of multisectoral stakeholders identified as potential end-users of the science under development. The research provides insights into the research implementation environment for three synthetic biology applications: (1) gene editing cane toads (Rhinella marina) to reduce their environmental impact; (2) engineering bacteriophages to combat antimicrobial resistance in humans; and (3) engineering microbes to improve biomining efficiency in the mining industry. In-depth interviews (N = 23) with government, research and civil society representatives revealed key challenges in the impact pathway for each application. The strongest themes uncovered during interviews related to perceived negative public attitudes towards genetic technologies, a lack of investment in critical research infrastructure, unclear regulatory pathways and the presence of a strong social and environmental imperative underpinning technology development. These findings reveal specific entry points for further engagement with the most immediate end-users of synbio. Separate from research on public attitudes to synbio, the cases highlight the various hurdles to achieving research impact, according to experts who will likely use, approve or invest in these applications in the future. The themes uncovered inform avenues for strengthening engagement and research coordination in Australia and elsewhere.
Synthetic biology (synbio) scientists have identified islands as potential environments in which to trial the release of approved gene drives in the future for conservation and biosecurity purposes. However, islands, and their interconnected waterscapes, can connect as much as they contain. The Torres Strait Islands stretch between mainland Australia, of which they are a part, and Papua New Guinea. The Straits' water facilitates transport and fosters customary connection and trans/national notions of kin. In this watery world, how might Torres Strait Islanders' understandings complicate and/or contribute to (synbio) scientific concepts of islands as contained, ‘watertight’ field sites? And how is a changing climate and rising sea levels impacting identities in the Torres Strait and relationships in the region? As intra‐ and inter‐national island anthropology, this article considers how synbio approaches to water may engage with the hydro‐history and fluid future of Torres Strait Islander identities and cross‐cultural socio‐environmental responsibilities.
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