Strengthening biological security after COVID-19: using cartoons for engaging life science stakeholders with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

Novossiolova, Tatyana, Whitby, Simon, Dando, Malcolm and Shang, Lijun (2022) Strengthening biological security after COVID-19: using cartoons for engaging life science stakeholders with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity, 4 (1). pp. 68-74. ISSN 2588-9338

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Abstract / Description

The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have acutely shown the need for maintaining robust international and national systems for biological security and ensuring that life sciences are used only for peaceful purposes. Life science stakeholders can play an important role in safeguarding scientific and technological advances in biology and related fields against accidental or deliberate misuse, not least because they are on the frontlines of driving innovation. This paper argues that enhancing awareness and understanding of the risk of deliberate disease is essential for effective biological security. The paper first discusses the issue of ‘dual-use’ in science and technology as it relates to WMD disarmament and non-proliferation. Second, it reviews how scientist engagement with dual-use risks has been addressed in the context of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). And third, the paper reports on the development of an innovative awareness-raising tool – a cartoon series – that can be used for engaging life science stakeholders with BTWC issues. The conclusion outlines a set of practical considerations for promoting sustainable life science engagement with the BTWC.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	[Abstract copyright: © 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.]
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cartoons; life sciences; biological security; Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC); awareness; engagement
Subjects:	300 Social sciences > 320 Political science 300 Social sciences > 370 Education 500 Natural Sciences and Mathematics > 570 Life sciences; biology
Department:	School of Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Lijun Shang
Date Deposited:	01 Apr 2022 08:21
Last Modified:	13 May 2022 11:05
URI:	https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/id/eprint/7352

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