Program

“The Spirit of Asilomar and the Future of Biotechnology” summit will occur on the 50th anniversary of the 1975 international meeting on recombinant DNA molecules, on February 23-26, 2025. 

A broad group will convene to learn from fifty years of history and discuss topics and puzzles intertwined within biotechnology today, including:


pathogens research & biological weapons

artificial intelligence and biotechnology

synthetic cells

biotechnologies beyond conventional containment

framing biotechnology's futures


The exact topics and their framing will continue to evolve. More information on themes may be found here.

Theme Co-Chairs

Pathogens Research and Bioweapons

David Relman, Stanford University

Andrew Weber, Council on Strategic Risks

Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology

Russ Altman, Stanford University

Yana Bromberg, Emory University

Michael Imperiale, University of Michigan

Synthetic Cells

Kate Adamala, University of Minnesota

John Glass, JCVI

Biotechnologies Beyond Conventional Containment

John Marken, Caltech

Richard Murray, Caltech

Framing Biotechnology’s Futures

Matthew Chang, National University of Singapore

David Kong, MIT

Jenny Molloy, University of Cambridge, ICGEB (Trieste)


“The Spirit of Asilomar” is being organized by Rice University, Stanford University, and the Science History Institute. 


We expect others will join in support of this public benefit event.

We would be grateful to receive your input or suggestions by direct email to: spiritofasilomar@sciencehistory.org