What We've Learned About Public Engagement
Exploring how public dialogue shapes the future of biological engineering
Imagine a world where microbes can be programmed to clean up environmental pollution, where your own cells can be engineered to fight cancer, and where materials for our everyday lives are grown sustainably in labs rather than manufactured in polluting factories. This is not science fiction—it is the promise of synthetic biology, a fast-evolving field that applies engineering principles to biological systems 9 .
Designing and constructing novel biological systems
Creating spaces for meaningful two-way conversations
Ensuring responsible application of biotechnologies
As these technologies increasingly exit the laboratory and enter our lives, they raise important questions that extend beyond pure science: How do we ensure these powerful tools are developed responsibly? Who gets to decide their trajectory? And how can the public meaningfully contribute to these conversations?
Science Cafés have emerged as crucial spaces for bridging the gap between synthetic biology researchers and the public. These informal, accessible forums allow for two-way conversations where scientists can share their work while citizens voice their hopes, concerns, and questions. Through these engagements, we've discovered that the public is not merely a passive recipient of scientific knowledge but an essential partner in shaping the ethical development and responsible application of biotechnologies.
Synthetic biology represents a fundamental shift in how we approach biology. Unlike traditional genetic engineering that might modify existing biological components, synthetic biology aims to design and construct novel biological systems that don't exist in nature. As one comprehensive review explains, "Synthetic biology seeks to design and build new biology that does useful things" 9 .
At the heart of synthetic biology lies the design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle, a systematic approach that mirrors engineering disciplines 6 9 . This iterative process has been accelerated by advances in DNA sequencing and synthesis technologies, automation, and artificial intelligence 4 8 .
Synthetic biology applies several key engineering principles to biological systems:
Creating biological parts with consistent performance specifications
Designing components that can be readily combined and interchanged
Masking complexity behind functional descriptions 6
Synthetic biology inevitably raises profound ethical questions that resonate deeply with public audiences 9 . These concerns often center around:
These considerations form the crux of many public engagement discussions and highlight why societal dialogue is not merely beneficial but essential for the responsible development of the field.
In 2022, Australian company Cortical Labs captured global scientific attention with a remarkable achievement—they demonstrated that human brain cells grown on a chip could learn to play the classic video game Pong 5 . This experiment provided a stunning proof-of-concept for what the company now terms Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI)—a new form of computing that fuses biological neurons with silicon hardware.
The team created what they initially called "DishBrain" by placing 800,000 human and mouse neurons on a high-density multielectrode array, essentially creating a biological-neural network in a dish 5 . Chief Scientific Officer Brett Kagan explained their engineering perspective: "We're using the substrate of intelligence, which is biological neurons, but we're assembling them in a new way" 5 .
The team used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)—adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state—which were then differentiated into neurons using two methods 5 .
Neurons were transferred to a planar electrode array containing 59 electrodes that could both stimulate the neural network and read its activity 5 .
The team developed a novel reinforcement learning approach based on predictability. Neurons received predictable, structured electrical signals when they produced desired behaviors 5 .
The current CL1 system, commercially launched in March 2025, uses improved hardware that allows better charge balance during electrical stimulation 5 .
| Component | Description | Function in Experiment |
|---|---|---|
| Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) | Reprogrammed adult cells capable of becoming any cell type | Source material for creating neurons |
| Planar electrode array | 59-electrode interface made of metal and glass | Provides two-way communication with neural network |
| Perfusion circuit | Life support system with filtration and environmental controls | Maintains cell health during experimentation |
| Stimulation protocol | Patterned electrical signals representing game state | Translates virtual environment (Pong) to biological signals |
The experiment yielded remarkable results. The neural network not only learned to control the virtual paddle in Pong but did so much more efficiently than artificial intelligence systems. According to Cortical Labs, these biological neural networks "learn so quickly and flexibly that they completely outpace the silicon-based AI chips used to train existing large language models" 5 .
| Metric | Synthetic Biological Intelligence | Traditional Silicon AI |
|---|---|---|
| Learning speed | Rapid adaptation through network reorganization | Requires extensive training data and iterations |
| Energy efficiency | ~1000W for 30-unit rack | Significantly higher energy requirements |
| Adaptability | Self-organizing networks adjust to new tasks | Requires retraining or architectural changes |
| Interpretability | Biological system with natural dynamics | "Black box" networks difficult to interpret |
"We're not just creating tools; we're creating something that might have a spark of what makes us human."
Synthetic biology relies on specialized reagents and materials that enable the precise engineering of biological systems. The table below highlights key resources essential for advancing research in this field.
| Tool/Reagent | Function | Example Applications |
|---|---|---|
| DNA/RNA synthesizers | Produce custom oligonucleotides from pmol to μmol scales | Generating genetic constructs, CRISPR guides |
| DNAchem reagents | Chemical compounds for nucleic acid synthesis | Creating primers, probes, and genetic parts |
| Cloning kits | Assemble genetic constructs into vectors | Building genetic circuits, pathway engineering |
| Competent cells | Engineered bacteria for DNA amplification | Propagating DNA constructs, protein production |
| CRISPR-Cas systems | Precision gene editing | Metabolic engineering, gene function studies 8 |
| Microplate readers | High-throughput analysis of multiple samples | Screening genetic modifications, testing enzyme activity 1 |
| Bioreactors | Controlled environments for growing engineered cells | Producing therapeutics, biofuels at scale 4 |
Modern synthetic biology increasingly depends on automated systems and artificial intelligence to accelerate the design-build-test-learn cycle. Automated liquid-handling robots enable high-throughput assembly and testing of genetic constructs, while microfluidics approaches allow sophisticated single-cell analyses 6 . As noted in trends for 2025, "AI is transforming enzyme design and synthetic biology workflows, enabling rapid screening and prediction of enzyme performance" 4 .
The industry continues to struggle with "the transition from lab to pilot and commercial scale," highlighting that while tools for design have advanced rapidly, capabilities for scaling biological systems need further development 4 . This limitation often surprises Science Café participants, who tend to assume that the pace of discovery translates directly to implementation.
Through numerous Science Café events focused on synthetic biology, clear patterns have emerged regarding what resonates with public audiences. We've found that tangible applications—such as engineered yeast producing rose oil for perfumes or spider silk for textiles—generate more engagement than abstract concepts 9 .
The Cortical Labs experiment with biological intelligence consistently fascinates audiences, as it raises profound questions about consciousness and what it means to be human. Similarly, medical applications like CAR-T cell therapies for cancer generate significant interest due to their personal relevance 9 .
Public responses to synthetic biology in Science Cafés tend to be nuanced rather than uniformly optimistic or skeptical. Common themes include:
Interestingly, we've observed that participants' concerns often evolve during discussions. Initial apprehension about "playing god" frequently gives way to more practical concerns about regulation, corporate control, and environmental containment after learning about existing safeguards and oversight mechanisms 9 .
Successful Science Café facilitation requires creating an environment where all participants feel comfortable expressing both enthusiasm and concerns. We've found that the following strategies significantly enhance engagement:
Comparing genetic circuits to computer programming
Presenting multiple viewpoints on controversial applications
Emphasizing conversation through small group discussions
"I came to explain my research, but I'm leaving with new questions I'd never considered—and that will make my work better."
Synthetic biology represents one of the most transformative technological frontiers of our time, with potential to reshape everything from medicine to manufacturing. Yet its trajectory remains uncertain—will it primarily benefit those who already have privilege and access, or can it be steered toward broadly shared benefits? The answer depends not only on scientific advances but on the quality of societal dialogue surrounding these technologies.
Through Science Cafés and similar engagement forums, we've discovered that the public brings essential perspectives to the development of synthetic biology. Their questions push researchers to consider real-world implications they might otherwise overlook. Their concerns highlight potential pitfalls before they become crises. Their aspirations point toward applications that serve communal rather than purely commercial interests.
The most profound lesson from these conversations is that responsible innovation in synthetic biology requires ongoing, inclusive dialogue between scientists and citizens. By creating spaces where technical expertise and lived experience can inform one another, we increase the likelihood that these powerful technologies will develop in ways that reflect our shared values and address our most pressing challenges.
As synthetic biology continues its rapid advance, this collaborative approach may prove as essential as any laboratory tool—helping ensure that the biology we synthesize truly serves the society it aims to benefit.