Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines for codes of conduct for scientists:Promoting responsible sciences and strengthening biosecurity governance

Formulated and endorsed by the international scientific community,the Tianjin Biosecurity Guidelines are a set of ten guiding principles and standards of conduct designed to promote responsible sciences and strengthen biosecurity governance at national and institutional levels.It may be used to develop new or enhance,supplement,and update the existing codes of conduct adaptive to a specific context and responsive to the bio-risks arising from the rapid advances in biological sciences.

Promoting responsible science and CBRN security through codes of conduct and education

The paper examines the utility of codes of conduct for promoting responsible science and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) security education. It reviews the growing international consensus on the need for developing codes of conduct as a way of engaging scientists with the broader social, ethical, and legal implications of their work and examines the ongoing efforts to develop and promulgate such codes. The paper argues that the effectiveness of codes of conduct requires sustained and tailored effort in promoting education and awareness of security issues among scientists.

Synthetic biology:Recent progress,biosafety and biosecurity concerns,and possible solutions

Synthetic biology is a new interdisciplinary research area that uses engineering principles as guidelines for biological investigation.With research goals to modify existing biological systems or to create new ones,the recent applications of synthetic biology have expanded approaches and tools for conventional biological research.In this article,we first briefly review the development and progress of synthetic biology over the past decade.Although the contributions of synthetic biology to basic life science research,human health,environmental protection,and even economic growth have been widely observed,potential biosafety,biosecurity,and ethical risks related to synthetic biology have also emerged in recent years as technology becomes less expensive,more mature,and more accessible.We provide a brief assessment of the risks associated with the possible misuse or abuse of this technology in various areas and discuss concerns from three points of view:biosafety,biosecurity risks,and ethics.Finally,to address challenges arising from the rapid progress of synthetic biology,technical,ethical,and regulatory measures were developed or discussed in recent years,including laboratory level precautionary measures for biosafety and biosecurity related to synthetic biology(such as genetic safeguards and firewalls),ethical codes of conduct for biological scientists,and regulations or oversight rules from personal,national,and international perspectives.A brief summary of these efforts is provided.

Promoting Economic Recovery Through Taxation

The role of taxation in promoting economic recovery has attracted great-er attention in recent years,with economic dislocation following the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.While taxation is only one of the factors impacting economic recovery,both economic literature and practical experience show that tax policy can contribute to enhanced growth and therefore greater economic activity.Tax instruments used as a means for promoting economic recovery include tax holidays,preferential tax rates,investment allowances,tax credits and special economic zones.However,there are a range of constraints over tax incentive design imposed by bodies such as the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting,the Forum on Harmful Tax Practices of the OECD and the Code of Conduct on Business Taxation of the European Union.Given the above,this paper sets out practical issues to inform governments seeking to promote economic activity through taxation.