Promoting biotechnology applications in China through effective biosafety education and communication

Biosafety represents a widespread but alarming terminology in life sciences. It was originally created for safety issues related to the possible leakage of recombinant DNAs from laboratories. However, its coverage has been greatly expanded to nearly all disciplines in life sciences. The fast development and extensive applications of biotechnology have aroused worldwide concerns over biosafety. Therefore, biosafety education becomes important for students, scientists, government staff, and the public. China has launched biosafety education and communication programs, although with many challenges. For example, it is difficult to have an appropriate definition and determined disciplines for biosafety because of its rapid evolution. Science-based knowledge and information of biosafety are still limited due to the fast change of biosafety concept, theories, and legislations. How to transform the above challenges into opportunities through effective biosafety education and communication? This article attempts to provide some thoughts and case studies for such difficulties, particularly in China.