Biotechnology is at a crossroads. The original Asilomar meeting set lab safety rules but ignored equity, ethics, intellectual property, and bioweapons. Today, the field is expanding rapidly while public trust in science erodes. Protocols alone aren’t enough — biotech needs a foundation of trust and shared responsibility to guide it toward a just and sustainable future.
At The Spirit of Asilomar: Future of Biotechnology, BEAM directors Annie and Zoe co-led a workshop with Dr. David S. Kong. Using storytelling and reflection methods adapted from community organizing, 12 peers co-wrote a Statement of Shared Stewardship — outlining what biotechnology must protect, why it matters, and how to uphold it. We then translated that statement into a short film that weaves participant voices with imagery of Asilomar, creating both a collective commitment and a visual framework to guide the field’s future.
The film was presented at the closing plenary to 300 of the world’s leading scientists, where it was met with strong reviews. Now published as an artifact of the conference, it continues to shape ongoing work with the MIT Media Lab on frameworks of stewardship and trust in biotechnology.
Annie Chen, Zoe Lee, David S. Kong
