Safety and Security

Detail the safety and security considerations of your project, adressing potential risks and outlining the measures taken to mitigate them.

Safety and Security Award

If local people are to use synthetic biology to solve local problems around the world, it must be used safely and securely. The Safety and Security Committee challenges teams to apply biological engineering approaches to manage the risks involved. Can you take the next step toward knowledge, understanding, and tools that make synthetic biology safer and more secure?

Visit the Special Awards page for more information.

What Should this Page Contain?

Describe all potential safety and security risks associated with your project, including:

  • Biological risks (e.g., pathogenicity, toxicity, environmental impact).
  • Chemical risks (e.g., handling hazardous materials).
  • Physical risks (e.g., equipment safety).
  • Security risks (e.g., potential misuse of technology).

Explain how you are addressing these risks and implementing safety measures.

Detail any safety features incorporated into your project design, such as:

  • Choice of a non-pathogenic chassis.
  • Selection of parts that minimize harm to humans, animals, or plants;
  • Substitution of safer materials in experiments;
  • Implementation of "kill-switch" mechanisms or other safety controls.

Explain the rationale behind these design choices.

Ensure that your project adheres to all safety requirements outlined in the Safety Policies page.

Inspirations