Latest Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Stories

Update to synthetic biology map identifies new activity across the globe The number of private and public entities conducting research in synthetic biology worldwide grew significantly between 2009 and 2013, according to the latest version of an interactive map produced by the Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Synthetic biology, an area of research focused on the design and construction of new biological parts and devices, or the...

National survey finds three out of four adults have heard little or nothing about the emerging technology WASHINGTON, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Despite advancements in the field of synthetic biology, three out of four adults surveyed in a national poll released today have heard "just a little" or "nothing at all" about the emerging technology, a level of awareness that has changed little since 2010. The national poll of more than 800 U.S. adults conducted by...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The creators of "Budget Hero," the popular serious game which helps people of all ages understand the federal budget and the trade-offs involved in the budgetary process, have launched an Election Edition to illuminate the budget impact of policies championed by President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney as well as those related to the impending "fiscal cliff." The updated version contains 27 new policies in all, including the...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars today announced the creation of a new program to study the impact of global changes--such as population growth, resource scarcity, urbanization, migration, and economic development--on people's lives, from their environment and health to their security and economic wellbeing. The Global Sustainability and Resilience program will be led by Blair A. Ruble, who will leave his...

Some progress being made Federal agencies have started taking steps to address the recommendations in a 2010 report from the presidential bioethics commission to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development, though the government has not fully addressed any of the report recommendations, according to a scorecard tracking the efforts. The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars launched the web-based Synthetic Biology...

Some Progress Being Made WASHINGTON, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Federal agencies have started taking steps to address the recommendations in a 2010 report from the presidential bioethics commission to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development, though the government has not fully addressed any of the report recommendations, according to a scorecard tracking the efforts. The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center...

Population Stories to Watch from the Wilson Center WASHINGTON, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As World Population Day approaches, Wilson Center consultant and demographer Elizabeth Leahy Madsen says the Arab Spring demonstrates that countries with very young age structures are prone both to higher incidence of civil conflict and undemocratic governance. "Among the five countries where revolt took root, those with the earliest success in ousting autocratic leaders also had...

Experts say at least $20 million to $30 million in government research is needed over the next decade to adequately identify and address the possible ecological risks of synthetic biology, an emerging area of research focused on the design and construction of new biological parts and systems, or modification of existing ones, to create new applications in areas ranging from energy to chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Without key research into these risks and appropriate federal oversight,...

Are We Making Progress? WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center is launching a new web-based Synthetic Biology Scorecard, designed to track federal and non-federal efforts to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development so risks are minimized and broad social and economic benefits can be realized. The Scorecard, unveiled today, monitors the progress made toward implementing the...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Don't call it a recession. In the Winter 2012 issue of The Wilson Quarterly, Robert Z. Aliber says America's current economic woes amount to a "Mini-Depression"--one that could have been avoided if the government had intervened a few weeks earlier. Robert J. Samuelson draws a different conclusion: just as the West prolonged the Great Depression by clinging to the gold standard, our unwillingness to reexamine the welfare state today...