On 13-14 October 2015, Centre for Public Engagement, University of Bristol hosted the second Knowledge Sharing and Mutual Learning workshop, which brought together SYNENERGENE consortium partners and Ecsite members, participating in the project. Part of the SYNENERGENE project—aimed at exploring Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in synthetic biology by engaging stakeholders and publics to collaboratively shape the emerging field of synthetic biology—the workshop focused on facilitation of the knowledge exchange within the consortium and stimulated reflection about the mutual learning in the project.

During the first day, partners provided insightful updates of the recent activities in each platform. The second day started with an open marketplace session, where Ecsite members presented their public engagement activities that have already been organized as a part of the project and the upcoming actions. From on-line discussions to vanilla flavoured workshops on synthetic biology, Ecsite members are testing out many formats to stimulate the debate about issues and societal implications of this emerging technology. The results and experience of the science centres and museums will be summarised and made publicly available after all engagement activities have taken place.

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