Just released: Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future

The Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) is happy to have released our newest technical research roadmap, Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future. The roadmap is available as an interactive website and PDF available at https://roadmap.ebrc.org.

This publication highlights innovative solutions and opportunities in engineering biology to support global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, enable sustainable products and solutions, and grow the circular bioeconomy. The technical roadmap addresses the current state of biotechnology for climate change mitigation and adaptation and ecosystem resilience, and lays out goals and short-, medium-, and long-term milestones for the development of engineering biology tools and technologies for a sustainable future.

Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, the roadmap was written collaboratively by more than 90 contributors across 56 academic institutions, biotechnology companies, government laboratories, and other organizations. The depth and breadth of this expertise is reflected in the diverse landscape of technologies, processes, and products presented in the roadmap for leveraging engineering biology to address our imminent climate crisis while advancing the bioeconomy. As the U.S. seeks to establish and maintain leadership in the global bioeconomy through the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation, and through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this roadmap provides a vision of how that dedication and leadership can ultimately benefit all Americans and our global community.

The technical roadmap focuses on novel, foundational engineering biology capabilities for the:

Biosequestration of Greenhouse Gases

Mitigation of Environmental Pollution

Conservation of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

And engineering biology for climate-friendly, sustainable products and solutions for:

Food & Agriculture

Transportation & Energy

Materials Production & Industrial Processes

The roadmap features case studies that explore the social and nontechnical dimensions associated with some of the roadmap’s potential climate solutions. These case studies were selected to support and encourage the incorporation of ethical, economic, political, and security considerations into the design and pursuit of technical research. The questions and considerations illuminated by these case studies highlight the need for technical and nontechnical stakeholders to work together to secure a sustainable future. The roadmap also contains a contextual glossary of terms and concepts.

View Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability here!

Check out the latest episode of “Life Lab” – a podcast collaboration between EBRC and Tumble Science Podcast for Kids!

“Life Lab” is a podcast series collaboration between EBRC and Tumble Science Podcast for Kids about engineering biology to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. Supported with funding from the National Science Foundation. Listen to Episode 1 – ”More Cheese, Please” – here.

Global Open Genetic Engineering Competition (GOGEC)

GOGEC, a virtual conference, allows students to present their work and meet other synthetic biology students around the world without having to worry about registration fees. Projects can include any sort of synthetic biology work including engineering organisms, purely computational or software work, or building non-biological devices with biological applications. You can find more information and register here.

Symposium on Innovation and Education for the Bioeconomy

Join local, state, and national leaders in education, government, and industry on October 27th, 2022 as we build a better and more sustainable future in the Appalachian Highlands. Stakeholders will gather at East Tennessee State University to pair local expertise in manufacturing, fermentation, and agriculture with global innovations in life science. This event will establish collaborations and partnerships to shape a world-class bioeconomy in the region. Featured speakers include EBRC members Natalie Kuldell (BioBuilder) and Tom Tubon (BioMADE). The symposium is free and open to the public, but you must register to attend. You can learn more and register here.

EBRC 2022 Council Retreat

Reminder to EBRC Council members in industry, government, and academia, to register and book your travel for the EBRC 2022 Council Meeting at J. Craig Venter Institute, in La Jolla, CA on November 7-8, 2022.

Travel Support and Meeting Hotel:
We anticipate covering airfare and hotel expenses for EBRC Academic Council Members. Please see EBRC’s full travel policy here.

EBRC has reserved a block of hotel rooms at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego La Jolla at 4550 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122 at $189.00 per night. Please indicate on the registration page if you will need hotel accommodations. We will reserve the room in our block. If your travel is not covered by EBRC, you can provide payment at check in. Please contact helix@ebrc.org with any questions rather than contacting the hotel directly.

Health and Safety:
We are committed to hosting a safe event. We will be closely watching CDC recommendations in addition to all relevant local and state guidelines leading up to the Meeting and make any changes necessary for health and safety. Proof of vaccination will be required for attendance. A rapid antigen testing strategy may also be deployed depending on conditions. Meals will be provided outside.

iGEM 2022 Grand Jamboree

The iGEM Grand Jamboree is where the future of synthetic biology is showcased every year. This year, 350+ multidisciplinary teams from 40+ countries will be presenting their projects on how to solve local problems, all over the world, using synthetic biology.

The iGEM Grand Jamboree is home of the world’s largest SynBio community of researchers, industry, investors, startups and policy makers.

After 15 years in Boston and 2 years remotely, iGEM chose the most beautiful city in the world and its Parc des Expositions, the largest venue in Europe and just 15 min away from the Eiffel Tower, to host the most important gathering for synthetic biology. Learn more and register here.

Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability

Publication Date: September 2022

EBRC’s technical roadmap, Engineering Biology for Climate & Sustainability: A Research Roadmap for a Cleaner Future, is a critical assessment of opportunities for engineering biology to contribute to tackling the climate crisis and long-term sustainability of products and solutions for health and well-being of Earth and its inhabitants. The roadmap is comprised of six themes that detail breakthroughs and milestones for engineering biology for climate and sustainability.

Cynthia Ni

Cynthia is a fan of microbes and their potential to help humans live sustainably. She completed a PhD in Chemical Engineering at MIT in 2022, in which she genetically engineered E. coli to utilize mixed feed streams for biosynthesis – a project motivated by the desire to convert food waste into useful products. Outside of research, she participated in departmental DEI initiatives and peer counseling, and was dedicated to improving the graduate student experience across the institute. In her free time, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, being in nature, and consuming delicious foods and beverages. Cynthia is excited to work in the Policy & International Engagement focus area and continue to explore the use of waste in the bioeconomy.

Jimmy Gollihar

I am a Scientist and Head of the Laboratory of Antibody Discovery & Accelerated Protein Therapeutics (ADAPT) at the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI). My work encompasses a broad range of engineering biology, from the design of simple genetic “parts” and circuits to protein engineering and industrial biomanufacturing. I use a foundation in synthetic biology to domesticate non-model organisms and then use these tools and chasses to engineer proteins or biosynthetic pathways with therapeutic and industrial potential. I use a holistic approach to protein engineering by employing concepts in directed evolution, rational design, and artificial intelligence to create biological countermeasures, diagnostics, and vaccine candidates. Over the last few years, my group has been involved in the genomic surveillance and characterization of SARS-COV-2, B-cell repertoire mining for neutralization and protection assays, and the engineering of enzymes for use in mRNA vaccine manufacturing.

I also spent the last four years as a DoD scientist. In that time, I designed and built the Army’s Biological Foundry co-located at the University of Texas at Austin. This work increased DoD capability in the field of synthetic biology for early-stage research efforts. From 2019 to 2021, I also served as the government CTO of the Bioindustrial Manufacturing Innovation Institute– BioMADE. As the technical architect of the institute, I led the creation of a public-private partnership to develop innovations at scale for biological production of non-medical products. Prior to that, I led an in-house R&D effort in the private sector.

Jason Kang

Aaron Schaller

Aaron Schaller is a molecular biologist and entrepreneur with 10 years of experience in microbiology, molecular and cell biology, and immunology/virology. In May 2020 he co-founded MeliBio, Inc., a food company harnessing synthetic biology and medicinal plant science to produce the world’s first real honey without bees. Before starting MeliBio, Aaron completed his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley studying innate immunity in response to viral infection as an NSF graduate fellow. A combined passion for food, environmentalism, microbiology, and entrepreneurship led Aaron to co-found MeliBio, where he currently serves as CTO. Aaron believes that the future of planetary and human health lies in our ability to move away from animal-based food supplies towards more sustainable and logical options, and that microbiology can take us there.

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