Dr Jeantine Lunshof’s research interests are concerned with philosophical research ethics in the field of genomic sciences and biological engineering where disruptive technological innovations call for epistemological and normative exploration. She conducts her philosophical and ethical work as a full-time ethicist on the workfloor of the lab. At the Wyss Institute, she leads the implementation of the model of “Collaborative Ethics” across the field of Biologically Inspired Engineering. Focus areas are computer-designed programmable life forms like Xenobots and biobots, synthetic biology including genome recoding and organoid research, and organ-on-chip translational research that aims to bridge the gap between lab-based human model systems studies and human clinical trials. Jeantine developed the innovative model of Open Consent for the Personal Genome Project, as a collaborator of George Church in the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Genetics. She is a member of the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics and teaches Responsible Conduct of Science at the Division of Medical Sciences at HMS. She is affiliated with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University. Jeantine received her B.A. in Philosophy and Tibetan Language and Culture from the University of Hamburg, her M.A. in Philosophy and Health Law from the University of Amsterdam, and her Ph.D. from VU University Amsterdam. She was awarded a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (2013-2015) for the study of conceptual and normative questions in systems biology.

Professor Patricia Osseweijer leads the Biotechnology and Society Section at the Delft University of Technology in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. Her drive is to link technological innovation in sustainable production and water systems with societal development for a sustainable and circular (bio)economy, linking with Sustainable Development Goals. With her multidisciplinary group, she works on methodology for social impact assessment, design of novel value chains focusing on integral impact assessment, inclusive innovation, social sustainability, public perceptions, communication and ethics. In 2015 she received the (NL) Royal Academy distinguished Lorentz fellowship for integrating social sciences & technology. Patricia is University Ambassador Brazil, advisor to the TU Delft President and coordinator of the 19 M Euro EU-Horizon2020 funded Water Mining program in which 38 public-private partners develop demonstrations on nutrient recycling and water recovery for circular water management in several venues in Europe.