INAUGURAL SCN MEETING 24 – 25 March 2009
Coombe Lodge, Bristol Dear Network Member,
First of all, welcome to Coombe Lodge, and welcome to the Inaugural Meeting of the Synthetic Components Network (SCN).
The SCN is one of seven Reseach Council-funded Networks in Synthetic Biology. Synthetic biology is one of the BBSRC’s ten new research priorities and is signposted at EPSRC. The Research Council’s aims in setting up the Networks include: to engender a culture of taking a synthetic-biology approach in biological sciences and engineering in the UK; to grow a UK community in synthetic biology; and to help define* what is new and emerging research area, with many interested parties from a broad collection of disciplines.
*Though, like many, we feel that keeping this definition as loose and broad as possible may be the best and healthiest option.
As stated in our original proposal for the SCN, in broad terms its scientific aim is ‘…to address the challenge of creating new biological and biomimetic systems by combining de novo designed molecular components, pared-down biological moieties and engineering-design principles to build self-organising, functional biomolecular systems’.
Now that we are gathered together for the first time, some of the things that we should address are: is this aim appropriate and tractable, and can we better-define what we would like to achieve through the Network? In considering this, however, in some respects this a discussion exercise because we do not have funds for research as such, though we hope sincerely that major grant applications will emerge from it.
We also have aims and aspirations in the social sciences and public engagement, and it is for these reasons that social scientists involved in ELSI (Ethical, Legal and Social Issues) and others active in public engagement were named as key people in the proposal, and will be prominent and active at our meetings.
Our hope for this first meeting is that scientists, engineers, social scientists and those actively involved in public engagement will mix, exchange ideas and start drawing up plans for future activities for the Network, and developing more-specific ideas for collaborations.
The following list is by no means exhaustive, it is not meant to be prescriptive, and it ranges from the seemingly trivial through to the reasonably ambitious, but it should provide ideas for what we might discuss: what logo should we adopt for the Network? (hence, the reminder on your badges); what would you like to get from the Network and its meetings?; whom would you like to hear speak at the September meeting in Oxford (PIs, post-docs and post-grads, other national or international speakers)?; how should we arrange academic exchanges?; what public engagement events can we run or contribute to either locally or nationally?; what grand challenges can we dream up, and how can we convert this into responsive-mode and large grant applications to the UK Research Councils and ERC etc?
We are looking forward to this first meeting, and to the scientific and social interactions that we hope it will foster. We hope you enjoy the Lodge and its grounds, the meeting and the interactions.
Best wishes,
Dek Woolfson and Jonathan Rossiter March 2009
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 2 PROGRAMME
Tuesday 24th March 12 noon Arrive at Coombe Lodge 12-30 - 1-30 Lunch 1-30 – 2-00 Dek Woolfson Welcome and Overview 2-00 - 2-45 Jonathan Rossiter ‘Robots and Synthetic Biology’ University of Bristol 2-45 - 3-30 George Banting ‘Where does Synthetic Biology meet University of Bristol Cell Biology?’ 3-30 - 4-00 Tea 4-00 - 4-45 Ainsley Newson ‘Ethical, Legal and Social Issues’ University of Bristol 4-45 - 5-30 Small Group Work on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues 5-30 – 6-15 Philippa Bayley and Kathy Sykes ‘Engaging the Public’ University of Bristol 6-15 - 8-00 Possible walk and pre-dinner drinks 8-00 Dinner
Wednesday 25th March 9-00 - 9-45 Richard Jones ‘What might the components of a University of Sheffield bottom-up synthetic biology look like?’ 9-45 - 10-30 Ben Davis ‘Sugars & Proteins: New Strategies University of Oxford in Synthetic Biology’ 10-30 - 11-00 Coffee 11-00 - 12-00 Discussion 12-00 - 1-30 Lunch and departures
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 3 USEFUL INFORMATION
Coombe Lodge Address: Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, North Somerset, BS40 7RG Tel: +44 (0) 1761 463355 Fax: +44 (0) 1761 462933 E-mail: [email protected]
Travel to Coombe Lodge Coombe Lodge is situated in the village of Blagdon, 13 miles south-west of Bristol on the A368 (Bath to Weston-super-Mare road).
If you are entering Blagdon on the A368 from the direction of Bath, pass the school, the Seymour Arms and the Queen Adelaide. As you leave the village and enter the Coombe, the entrance to Coombe Lodge drive is on the right.
If you are on the A368 from Weston, pass through the tiny village of Rickford and the drive to Coombe Lodge is on the left about 3/4 mile from Rickford.
If you are travelling north on the A38 turn right at the Churchill traffic lights, signposted for Bath. If you are travelling south on the A38 turn left at the sign Burrington and Blagdon, then left again.
In both cases pass through the tiny village of Rickford and the drive to Coombe Lodge is on the left about 3/4 mile from Rickford.
Bristol Airport is 4.5 miles away by road.
The nearest railway station is Bristol Temple Meads (15 miles away). For those of you arriving by train you should have received an email from Rachel Bridges regarding travel arrangements to Coombe Lodge. A taxi will be arranged for your return to Bristol Temple Meads at the end of the meeting.
Transport Contact Details National Rail enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 Bristol International Airport: 0871 334 4344 (arrivals/departures) 0871 334 4444 (general enquiries) Taxi: Checker Cars (airport taxi): 01275 475000
What to bring There will be an opportunity to go for a walk before dinner on Tuesday 24 March. We recommend that you bring a pair of suitable outdoor shoes and waterproof/warm clothing.
Please note that bedrooms at Coombe Lodge are not ensuite so you may wish to bring a dressing gown and slippers with you.
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 4 Further information Synthetic Components Network c/o Rachel Bridges School of Chemistry Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS Telephone: ++44 (0)117 928 8309 Fax: ++44 (0)117 929 8611 Email: [email protected]
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 5 PARTICIPANTS
Management Committee Members
Prof Paula Booth Dr Jonathan Rossiter School of Medical Sciences Department of Engineering Mathematics University of Bristol University of Bristol University Walk Queen’s Building, University Walk Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD BS8 1TR Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Rachel Bridges (Network Secretary) Dr Kathleen Sedgley (Network Facilitator) School of Chemistry Research and Enterprise Development University of Bristol University of Bristol Cantock’s Close Senate House, Tyndall Avenue Bristol Bristol BS8 1TS BS8 1TH Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Prof John Colyer Prof Louise Serpell Faculty of Biological Sciences Biochemistry University of Leeds University of Sussex Leeds John Maynard-Smith Building LS2 9JT Brighton Email: [email protected] BN19QG Email: [email protected] Prof Richard Jones Department of Physics and Astronomy Prof Andrew Turberfield University of Sheffield Department of Physics Hicks Building University of Oxford Hounsfield Road Clarendon Laboratory, Parks Hills Sheffield Oxford S3 7RH OX1 3PU Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dr Ainsley Newson Prof Dek Woolfson Centre for Ethics in Medicine School of Chemistry University of Medicine University of Bristol Third Floor, Hampton House Cantock’s Close Cotham Hill Bristol University of Bristol BS8 1TS Bristol Email: [email protected] BS6 6AU Email: [email protected]
The Management Committee can be contacted by email at [email protected]
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 6 Delegates:
Prof George Banting Prof Ben Davis School of Medical Sciences Chemical Research Laboratory University of Bristol University of Oxford University Walk 12, Mansfield Road Bristol Oxford BS8 1TD OX1 3TA Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Prof Hagan Bayley Dr Mark Dillingham Chemical Biology Sub-Department School of Medical Sciences University of Oxford University of Bristol 12, Mansfield Road University Walk Oxford Bristol OX1 3TA BS8 1TD Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dr Phillipa Bayley Prof Steve Evans Centre for Public Engagement School of Physics and Astronomy Senate House E C Stoner Building University of Bristol University of Leeds Bristol Leeds BS8 1TH LS2 9JT Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Prof Leo Brady Prof Heinrich Hoerber School of Medical Sciences Department of Physics University of Bristol 3.43, HH Wills Physics Laboratory University Walk University of Bristol Bristol Bristol BS8 1TD BS8 1TL Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dr Michael Butler Dr Lars Jeuken Unilever School of Physics and Astronomy Research and Development, Colworth E C Stoner Building Colworth Laboratory, Colworth House University of Leeds Sharnbrook Leeds MK44 1LQ LS2 9JT Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dr Neil Cameron Dr Matthew Kearnes Department of Chemistry Department of Geography University of Durham Durham University South Road Science Laboratories, South Road Durham Durham DH1 3LE DH1 3LE Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dr Caroline Colijn Prof Julie Kent Department of Engineering and Mathematics Department of Sociology and Criminology University of Bristol UWE, Frenchay Campus Queen's Building, University of Bristol Coldharbour Lane Bristol Bristol BS8 1TR BS16 1QY Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 7 Dr Colin Lazarus Prof Ruud ter Meulen School of Biological Sciences Centre for Ethics in Medicine University of Bristol 3rd Floor, Hampton House, Cotham Hill Woodland Road University of Bristol Bristol Bristol BS8 1UG BS6 6AU Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Prof Ian Manners Dr Kenny Webster School of Chemistry ThinkTank Cantock's Close ThinkTank, Birmingham Science Museum University of Bristol Millenium Point, Curzon Street Bristol Birmingham BS8 1TS B4 7XG Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Dr Andrew Nelson School of Chemistry University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT Email: [email protected]
Dr Chrystel Remillat Department of Aerospace Engineering University of Bristol Queen's Building, University Walk Bristol BS8 1TR Email: [email protected]
Dr Nigel Savery School of Medical Sciences University of Bristol University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD Email: [email protected]
Prof Kathy Sykes Institute for Advanced Studies Royal Fort House University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1UJ Email: [email protected]
Dr William Taylor National Institute for Medical Research The Ridgeway Mill Hill London NW7 1AA Email: [email protected]
www.bristol.ac.uk/scn 8