Scan the Horizon for Unprecedented Risks. Sills, J., Simon, S., Otto, M., & Engelhard, M. Science, 362(6418):1007–1008, November, 2018.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
[excerpt] [...] the multilayered concepts of HEGAAs [i.e. horizontal environmental genetic alteration agents] go far beyond those in time and space. Each layer is characterized by a high degree of complexity and is often novel to regulators and risk assessors. [...] Even with the option to assess each layer independently, it remains an incalculable task to synthesize these separate results into a reliable overall assessment. [...] HEGAAs serve as a prime example of the pressing need for active horizon scanning in the field of synthetic biology. Such an approach would require three steps to ensure sufficient time for public discourse on applications such as HEGAAs: identification of challenging developments by risk assessment experts, evaluation of wider societal implications, and popularization of the results internationally. [...]
@article{sillsScanHorizonUnprecedented2018,
  title = {Scan the Horizon for Unprecedented Risks},
  author = {Sills, Jennifer and Simon, Samson and Otto, Mathias and Engelhard, Margret},
  year = {2018},
  month = nov,
  volume = {362},
  pages = {1007--1008},
  issn = {1095-9203},
  doi = {10.1126/science.aav7568},
  abstract = {[excerpt] [...] the multilayered concepts of HEGAAs [i.e. horizontal environmental genetic alteration agents] go far beyond those in time and space. Each layer is characterized by a high degree of complexity and is often novel to regulators and risk assessors. [...] Even with the option to assess each layer independently, it remains an incalculable task to synthesize these separate results into a reliable overall assessment. [...] HEGAAs serve as a prime example of the pressing need for active horizon scanning in the field of synthetic biology. Such an approach would require three steps to ensure sufficient time for public discourse on applications such as HEGAAs: identification of challenging developments by risk assessment experts, evaluation of wider societal implications, and popularization of the results internationally. [...]},
  journal = {Science},
  keywords = {*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-14659730,communicating-uncertainty,emergent-engineering,environment-society-economy,ethics,horizon-scan,preparedness,risk-assessment,science-ethics,science-policy-interface,science-society-interface,uncertainty,uncertainty-propagation,unknown},
  lccn = {INRMM-MiD:c-14659730},
  number = {6418}
}

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