Biotechnology History and Policy
Acting Program Manager: Dominique Tobbell
Program Assistant: Jennifer Dionisio

The biotechnology initiative examines the scientific, industrial, social, and political dimensions of biotechnology.

Central areas of interest include emerging industrial biotech applications, debates concerning agricultural biotech, and the history and applications of medicinal biotech since 1980.

The goals of this program area include

• Producing a unique perspective on the growth, functioning, and impact of modern biotechnology by conducting a series of oral histories with key scientific and business leaders;
• Preserving key resources central to the development of the field;
• Organizing and hosting public conferences; and
• Disseminating results of scholarly analysis to broader audiences through the Web and in print.

Recent conference
Building Biotechnology: The Past, Present, and Future of Biotechnology Clusters

Related publication
The Gene: A Historical Perspective, by Ted Everson. An overview of the field of genetics’ scientific, social and economic importance, emphasizing the historical development of the concept of the gene.

Chemical Heritage article
"Biotechnology Clustering: The Regional Dynamics of the Modern Biotechnology Industry" by Ted Everson. A look at the regional dynamics of the modern biotechnology industry.