The Cambridge Public Health Department is seeking volunteers to serve as community representatives on institutional biosafety committees. Most committees meet once a year.
A two-day training for interested residents and other stakeholders will be held on Wednesday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 16 from 5 p.m.−8 p.m. in the Macht Auditorium, located in a free-standing brick building on the CHA Cambridge Hospital campus, 1493 Cambridge St.
The Cambridge Biosafety Forum will cover basic molecular biology, emerging gene-editing technologies, biological risk assessment, and the role of the community representative on an IBC. Attendees will also observe a mock IBC meeting.
Cambridge residents interested in serving as community representatives can attend the training at no charge.
"With the increasing number of biotechs in Cambridge, it is especially important for residents to participate in the oversight process and represent community biosafety interests,” said Sam Lipson, the department’s director of environmental health. Lipson noted that Cambridge is home to over 130 biotechs.
Cambridge is the first community in the world to establish direct citizen oversight of biological research, and continues to set the standard for strict public oversight of this sector.
For more information or to register see complete information on the
Cambridge Public Health Department website.