In March 2023, members of the Novel Beings Network gathered in Newcastle to mark the launch of their first edited collection, Regulatory Approaches for a Future of New Intelligent Life. The event included talks from Professors Aisling McMahon and Colin Gavaghan, discussing their contributions to the book.

The collection stems from the wider project on Novel Beings, which has been ongoing since 2017 and stems from a Wellcome Trust funded award. The project has developed over the years attracting a large network of colleagues who actively contribute to events and publications, including this new edited collection from Edward Elgar Publishing.

The book explores an innovative area of academic interest that is set to grow exponentially, the collection is an original discussion into the divide between proactive and reactive regulatory approaches to the merging biotechnologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) research that are likely to create new forms of morally valuable life.

Our guest speakers, Professor Colin Gavaghan and Professor Aisling McMahon, discussed their contributing chapters with Q&A.
You can view the meeting recording at the Materials link below.

Running order of talks:

Dr David Lawrence, Dr Sarah Morley- Introduction and project overview

Professor Aisling McMahon- The “ethical” regulation of “novel being” technologies: the potential role for patents as ethical drivers, blockers and guiders?

Professor Colin Gavaghan- A phased approach to protection of artificial beings

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