[wos] Proposal for a panel on "Open Source Biotechnology"

[Volker Grassmuck]

Andrea,

there is no formal procedure. You propose a panel by doing what you have 
done, simply propose it on this list. This is the main place for 
discussion concerning anything wos. Behind it is a program council that 
monitors what is going on here, discusses it in light of the overall 
design of the conference, and takes the final decisions. I've mentioned 
this on this list before, but you're right that it should be made more 
transparent, with the names of the council members on the website which 
we are only now bringing up to date.

Two strategic decisions were that wos4 will be single track, meaning 
within the three days there is a total of 14 panels. And that there will 
be no call for papers. It was my personal wish to have one, but that's 
what you get when you have collective decision making.

As to your proposal, moving from bit-space into wetware, or hardware for 
that matter, is certainly a fascinating challenge. I don't know who you 
have in mind, but openwetware.org that Chris suggested is certainly very 
much in the wos spirit. Fact is that nobody except Chris, who did two 
biotech panels at wos2:
http://wizards-of-os.org/index.php?id=230
http://wizards-of-os.org/index.php?id=229&L=3
responded here or in the council. My feeling is that while all of us are 
involved in open content and some in free software, copyrights, free 
wifi etc. no one is actually involved in biology. Please correct me if 
I'm wrong but that would change the approach -- from scratching an itch 
of someone in the wos community to a more abstract idea that this is 
important and we should find someone to tell us about it.

Looking at the current panel list we have 16 already. Of course, things 
are still changing. Open standards might turn into a workshop. 
Immaterial labor might not materialize. It is my feeling that if space 
opens up, rather than diversify into biotech we should strengthen free 
software which is the root of wos after all and pretty weak at this 
point with only one dedicated panel. But this is my personal feeling.

Actually this is a good opportunity to ask all of you what you think is 
important for wos, individual topics but also the overall mix, the 
balance of issues that should be present. We'll have the meeting on 
Wednesday where we will consider proposals on this list as well. BTW, 
the TACD meeting in Paris on Monday and Tuesday will also help clarify 
some of the panels and speakers. I'll send an updated version of the 
concept paper on Wednesday and look forward to your reactions.

best
Volker



Andrea Glorioso wrote:
> Dear Christopher, dear all,
> 
>>>>>> "Christopher" == Christopher M Kelty <ckelty at rice.edu> writes:
> 
>     > Andrea,
> 
>     > if your names do not already include people in synthetic
>     > biology, in particular the biobricks project,
>     > http://bbf.openwetware.org/, I could certainly help with that.
>     > Drew Endy is the natural choice, but might be hard to get... but
>     > there are no doubt others...
> 
> Thanks for the suggestion,  I admit I was  not aware of  this project.
> Seems quite interesting, I will try to understand more of it.
> 
> At the moment, however, I'm just trying to understand whether there is
> any particular/formal way to propose a  panel on the subject.. I would
> like   to know whether such  a  panel is  possible  before starting to
> pester, I mean contact, the potential speakers.
> 
> Hope the powers-that-be are reading. :)
> 
> Ciao!
> 
> --
> Andrea Glorioso		andrea at digitalpolicy.it
>                         +39 348 921 4379
>