<divclass="h2">Techno moral scenarios as potential educational material</div>
<p>Techno moral (TM) scenarios are used to describe a possible future scenario in which a specific future application of a novel technology is imagined along with all the consequences, good and bad, it may have. [22] As synthetic biology is a relatively new field, it can be hard to define potential risks and imagine potential future occurrences. Particularly for (young) students, it can be difficult to think of future societal, environmental and ecological effects. In line with iGEM’s mentality, we want to encourage both teams and scholars to think of the potential consequences of their idea. </p>
<p>We were inspired by the work of Zoë Robaey and colleagues on the use of TM scenarios as educational material. They developed a framework for teachers to present and discuss such scenarios that illustrate multiple perspectives on a synthetic biology development, including pros and cons. Considering the novelty of our project, the framework inspired us to develop and write such scenarios, based on our project. By means of such TM scenarios, we want to provide a basis for those who are starting with synthetic biology and help teachers with getting inspired. Therefore, this work is part of the teams’ educational effort in the theme of synthetic biology. The TM scenarios provided below can be used in Step 2 of the provided document by Robaey under the link of the citation. <ahref="#cite23"style="color: #185A4F;">[23]</p>
<p>We were inspired by the work of Zoë Robaey and colleagues on the use of TM scenarios as educational material. They developed a framework for teachers to present and discuss such scenarios that illustrate multiple perspectives on a synthetic biology development, including pros and cons. Considering the novelty of our project, the framework inspired us to develop and write such scenarios, based on our project. By means of such TM scenarios, we want to provide a basis for those who are starting with synthetic biology and help teachers with getting inspired. Therefore, this work is part of the teams’ educational effort in the theme of synthetic biology. The TM scenarios provided below can be used in Step 2 of the provided document by Robaey under the link of the citation. <ahref="#cite23"style="color: #185A4F;">[23]</a></p>
<p>Scientists created a nitrogen-fixing maize (or other native crop to the region) with the use of synthetic biology. This adapted maize could fixate nitrogen due to having a new organelle in its cells called ‘nitroplast’. The invention was a great scientific achievement! Scientists believed this plant could save millions of people from hunger by providing more food in regions with harsh conditions and lower food security. In addition, growing this maize wouldn't require the use of (expensive) chemical fertilizers, so animals and the environment would benefit from this innovation too – at least, that's what they thought.</p>
<p>The scientists felt great responsibility and thus made sure that their technology was accessible to small farmers as well and not just big companies. They made sure that the technology was not controlled by patents and that it was easily applicable to many other cassava varieties and other crops as well. The scientists made sure that the seeds and knowledge were shared with local governments of countries desperately needing this technology. The seeds were given to farmers and they were allowed to save the seeds and improve their crops. The seeds were indeed performing better, and many farmers that would normally only grow food for their family could now start selling part of their harvest. This also gave more economic stability to multiple regions. Farmers, their families and local governments saw many positive effects of this innovation.</p>
