Altering the Future: Synthetic Biology & Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi SEED and Hawaiʻi Center for Food Safety invite you to an exciting panel discussion and interactive workshop. Through presentations from leading experts and thought-provoking exercises, we will discuss the challenges new genetic engineering proposals pose to the Islands' biodiversity and Hawaiian cultural practices and sovereignty.
Should we allow our fragile ecosystem to be used for testing unproven, genetic engineering technologies or should we explore how we can develop holistic strategies and responses to environmental crisis built upon indigenous knowledge?
Hear from experts and join the conversation!

Our Panelists:
Dr. Kū Kahakalau is an award-winning native Hawaiian educator, song-writer, story teller, researcher, grassroots activist, cultural practitioner, expert in Hawaiian language, history and culture, and international lecturer and consultant. For the past 20 years, Dr. Kahakalau has been on the forefront of Indigenous education and research worldwide, developing an Indigenous methodology called Mā’awe Pono, grounded in a Hawaiian worldview.

Kelsea Kanohokuahiwi Hosoda is a cultural practitioner, scientist, and educator. She obtained her Masters in Molecular Biosciences & Biological Engineering. Her doctoral research focus at UH Mānoa is at the intersect of Hawaiian Language and Computer Science. She is committed to advancing the people of Hawaii via education in both the Native Hawaiian culture and 21st century science skills.

Dana Perls is Senior Food and Technology Campaigner with Friends of the Earth U.S. Friends of the Earth is the North American representative to Friends of the Earth International, the world’s largest grassroots federation of environmental organizations. Dana leads Friends of the Earth’s market and policy work on the environmental impacts of emerging technologies such as genetic engineering and synthetic biology. Dana brings a strong background in campaign organizing and environmental policy and combines them with her commitment to environmental justice. She holds a Masters in City Planning from UC Berkeley in CA, and a B.A. from Cornell University.

Jaydee Hanson is the Senior Policy Analyst for Emerging Technologies, particularly biotechnologies and nanotechnologies at the Center for Food Safety. He co-authored The Principles for the Oversight of Synthetic Biology and recently published in and edited a special issue of GeneWatch magazine on gene drives. He serves on the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology established by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. His MA in Geography is from the University of Hawai’i. His BA is from University of the Pacific in International Studies and Ecology.
Futurist Aubrey Morgan Yee will lead the interactive workshop following the panel.

Complimentary pupus and drinks will be served.