Lead Academy: The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) Contact: knaw@bureau.knaw.nl
The IAP's biosecurity initiative focuses on the potential impact of biosciences research on our global society and, particularly, on the risks associated with the misuse of such research. IAP has appointed a working group on biosecurity which developed a statement of principles that could guide IAP member academies and other scientific bodies in developing appropriate biosecurity codes of conduct (subsequently released in 2005).
Activities in 2008: The Sixth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction took place in Geneva from 18-22 August 2008. The draft "Considerations, Lessons, Perspectives, and Recommendations" for IAP Members drawn from the presentations and working papers distributed to all BWC Delegates at the Convention include:
The official report will shortly be available at: http://www.opbw.org/
Activities in 2007: Further to the endorsement of the IAP statement in 2005 on biosecurity by 68 world ‘s science academies and the participation of members of the IAP Biosecurity Working Group (BWG) in the processes of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), the BWG was interested in gaining insight into the impact that the statement has had at the national level. More specifically, the BWG was interested in knowing what actions IAP member academies, as well as other national scientific organizations, communities of scientists and/or government authorities have undertaken in response to the statement. The information gathered helped form the workplan for the biosecurity initiative in subsequent years, including ideas on:
For information, contact: Sergio Jorge Pastrana: pastrana@ceniai.inf.cu
Activities in 2006: The Royal Society, the International Council for Science and the InterAcademy Panel on International Issues held a workshop on the scientific and technological developments relevant to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). This invitation-only meeting took place at the Royal Society from 4-6 September 2006. The meeting addressed scientific progress in the life sciences, encompassing fields such as immunology, agricultural biotechnology, and drug delivery as well as promising techniques such as bioinformatics and RNA interference. One of the objectives of the Sixth BTWC Review Conference, taking place from 20 November - 8 December 2006, will be to review recent scientific developments and to assess the ways in which such developments may be relevant to the Convention. The workshop provided an opportunity for the international scientific community to contribute to these discussions. A full report (see link below) of the workshop was produced for the BTWC Review Conference. RS-IAP-ICSU will also be hosting a seminar at the United Nations in Geneva on 21 November 2006 during the Review Conference. BTWC Workshop report
Geneva Seminar flyer
RS-IAP-ICSU Statement
Background material is available also at: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/biso/Biotech_Workshop.html
IAP Statement on Biosecurity (2005): IAP released a statement on biosecurity, endorsed by 68 members, in December 2005. The statement was presented to the UN Meeting of Experts of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Geneva the following week. IAP members are urged to disseminate the statement to their national media. For more information, including the press release and statement, click here.
- Scientists who become aware of activities that violate the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention or international customary law should raise their concerns with appropriate people, authorities and agencies;
- Scientists should be aware of, disseminate and teach national and international law and regulations, as well as policies and principles aimed at preventing the misuse of biological research.