title: Synthetic Biology R&D Risks: Social-Institutional Contexts Matter!
abstract: Factors that shape actual research practices - 'social and institutional context' - typically are missing from considerations of synthetic biology R&D-related risk and containment. We argue that analyzing context is essential in identifying circumstances that create, amplify, or diminish risk, and in revealing new opportunities for avoiding or managing those risks.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, USA. Electronic address: wolfeak@ornl.gov.
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Campa
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, USA.
authors.forename: Rachael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Graduate School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Savannah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Stelling
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, USA; Retired, formerly, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bjornstad
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, USA; Retired, formerly, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038, USA.
authors.forename: Barry L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Shumpert
mesh_terms: D057005:Bioengineering; D006801:Humans; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012306:Risk; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D066252:Sociological Factors; D058615:Synthetic Biology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends
keywords: R&D; containment; risk; social and institutional context; synthetic biology