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Workshop Host

Center for Science Technology and Security Policy (CSTSP)
Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law Program (SFRL)
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1200 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
March 17, 2009

Example pic

Themes

In response to a 2006 accidental but unreported brucella infection at Texas A&M University, the federal government began a series of inquiries into the safety regulations and physical security of high containment laboratories. In 2008, over 400 entities and 14,000 researchers were registered with the CDC and APHIS to work with select agents. Also in 2008, the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism report, World at Risk, called for government funding in its recommendation for mandatory education programs on dual use research and biosafety. Currently, anyone needing access to high containment facilities is trained by biosafety officers in their institutions on relevant sections of the BMBL, personal protection, handling of laboratory accidents, and reporting and response to an exposure.

Two units of AAAS-the Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy and the Program on Scientific Freedom, Responsibility and Law - organized this workshop, bringing together a group of experts in biosafety, the life sciences, and biosecurity, as well as relevant stakeholders to review current educational programs and provide recommendations on how best to design and implement similar programs. This workshop is one of four workshops on biosecurity education; the first workshop, addressed education of dual use research to scientists and the next two workshops will address bioterrorism preparedness and biodefense policy.