Life sciences and related fields
Subtitle: trends relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention
By: Committee on Trends in Science and Technology Relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention: An International Workshop, Board on Life Sciences, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies ; in cooperation with Chinese Academy of Sciences, IAP--The Global Network of Science Academies, International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, International Union of Microbiological Societies
Contributors: Zhongguo ke xue yuan; IAP--the Global Network of Science Academies; International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; International Union of Microbiological Societies
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 150
ISBN-13: 9780309210713
Subjects: Biosecurity; Bioterrorism; Biological weapons; Arms control; Congresses; Technological innovations; Prevention; Chemical weapons
Other titles: Trends relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention
Description: During the last decade, national and international scientific organizations have become increasingly engaged in considering how to respond to the biosecurity implications of developments in the life sciences and in assessing trends in science and technology (S&T) relevant to biological and chemical weapons nonproliferation. The latest example is an international workshop, Trends in Science and Technology Relevant to the Biological Weapons Convention, held October 31 - November 3, 2010 at the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.  Life Sciences and Related Fields summarizes the workshop, plenary, and breakout discussion sessions held during this convention. Given the immense diversity of current research and development, the report is only able to provide an overview of the areas of science and technology the committee believes are potentially relevant to the future of the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (BWC), although there is an effort to identify areas that seemed particularly ripe for further exploration and analysis. The report offers findings and conclusions organized around three fundamental and frequently cited trends in S&T that affect the scope and operation of the convention: The rapid pace of change in the life sciences and related fields; The increasing diffusion of life sciences research capacity and its applications, both internationally and beyond traditional research institutions; and The extent to which additional scientific and technical disciplines beyond biology are increasingly involved in life sciences research. The report does not make recommendations about policy options to respond to the implications of the identified trends. The choice of such responses rests with the 164 States Parties to the Convention, who must take into account multiple factors beyond the project's focus on the state of the science.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-132).

Also available online.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The pace of developments in the life sciences; title: Diffusion of life sciences research capacity and applications; title: Integration of multiple disciplines in life sciences research; title: Monitoring and assessing trends in science and technology.