Synthetic biology: enormous possibility, exaggerated perils

Area of Science:

• Bioengineering ethics
• Undergraduate research

Background:

• The Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE) sponsored its 3rd Annual Bioethics Essay Contest.
• Ninety-four undergraduate students submitted essays on bioethics.
• Essays were assessed and ranked by professionals in Biological Engineering through a blinded process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and recognize outstanding undergraduate bioethics scholarship.
• To encourage critical thinking and writing on ethical issues in biological engineering.

Main Methods:

• Essay submissions were evaluated by a panel of Biological Engineering professionals.
• Semi-finalists presented their essays at the IBE annual meeting.
• Judges scored the presentations to determine the winner.

Main Results:

• Mr. Zachary Russ, a Bioengineering student from the University of Maryland, won first place.
• His essay was selected as the overall winner from 94 submissions.

Conclusions:

• The contest successfully identified and awarded a high-quality undergraduate bioethics essay.
• This initiative promotes ethical discourse within the field of biological engineering.