All three of the top GHGs (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) are cycled biologically, either actively generated or metabolized by plants and microbes. Due to recent breakthroughs in biotechnology, such as CRISPR-Cas genome editing, scientists can unlock and leverage the biological code to drive increased photosynthesis and carbon and nitrogen fixation.

Join the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy in a discussion with experts from the Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley on the use of modern molecular and genomic technologies to develop climate-friendly, inexpensive, crop and soil amendments that dramatically increase the potential to store atmospheric carbon in biomass and minimize the release of GHGs back into the environment. The webinar will also focus on the ethical, governance and public perception issues that arise when scaling new technologies of this nature.

Panelists:

Dr. Melinda Kliegman is the Director of Public Impact at The Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. The mission of the IGI is to bridge revolutionary genome-editing tool development to affordable and accessible solutions in human health, climate, and agriculture. As the Director of Public Impact, a new role at the IGI, Melinda will play an important part in growing and realizing this mission. Melinda holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University. She is joining the IGI from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropic organization, where she was a Fellow in Global Policy and Advocacy. For the Gates Foundation, Melinda was a scientific advisor focused on implementing new areas of work, which included developing a policy and advocacy strategy for the use of genome editing in agriculture and for human health applications.

Dr. Brad Ringeisen is the Executive Director at The Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. Brad is joining the IGI after four years at DARPA, most recently in the role of Director of the Biological Technologies Office, where he managed a division working at the cutting edges of biology, physical sciences and engineering. Brad’s office overlapped with IGI on several occasions, on the Safe Genes program, which works to develop safe and more precise genome editing tools while preventing misuse of the technology, as well as IGI’s research into innovative solutions to mitigate acute radiation sickness.

Moderator:

Dr. Wil Burns is the Co-Director for the Institute of Carbon Removal Law and Policy. His current areas of research focus are climate geoengineering; international climate change litigation; adaptation strategies to address climate change, with a focus on the potential role of micro-insurance; and the effectiveness of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. He has published over 80 articles and chapters in law, science, and policy journals and books and has co-edited four books.