Go to ewuu.nl

Centre for Living Technologies

Home > News > 🧬 SynBioNL Event 2025 Recap

On May 2, 2025, the Centre for Living Technologies (CLT) proudly partnered with SynBioNL to host the flagship event “Out of the Ordinary – Thinking Outside the SynBio Toolbox” in Utrecht. This dynamic national gathering brought together over 150 researchers, students, industry experts, artists, and policymakers to explore the unconventional edges of synthetic biology.

Far from a typical scientific conference, the event celebrated creativity, interdisciplinary ideas, and bold thinking, pushing the boundaries of what synthetic biology can be.

Event Highlights:

Plenary Session 1 – Out of the Ordinary in Academia
Cutting-edge talks explored new frontiers in bioengineering:

  • Margarita Bernal Cabas (RuG): Engineering Xanthobacter SoF1 to produce food proteins from air and renewable energy
  • Sebastian Wenk (RuG): Evolution-assisted formate assimilation in E. coli
  • Josiah Passmore (UU): Closed-loop optogenetic control of cell biology

Flash Talks & Networking
Dynamic short talks gave rapid-fire insights into emerging research, followed by rich networking opportunities during lunch and breaks.

Plenary Session 2 – SynBio in Industry
Industry leaders shared their bold approaches:

  • Charles Williams (LenioBio): Scalable, cell-free protein production for therapeutics
  • Cradle: Generative AI for better proteins
  • Guest speakers from GASB and EuSynBioS expanded the conversation to the European landscape

Plenary Session 3 – The Limits of Synthetic Biology
We explored the philosophical and cultural boundaries of SynBio:

  • Laura Elidedt Rodríguez (CLT Artist-in-Residence): Art meets science in speculative bio futures
  • Julia Rijssenbeek (WUR): Ethical reflections on a bio-based world

Interactive Panel Session
A highlight of the day was the interactive panel discussion, where the audience engaged through live online polling, sparking dialogue on the societal and technical futures of synthetic biology.

Closing Moments
The day concluded with a traditional group photo, takeaways from the day, and an informal borrel – a fitting end to a day of energy and imagination.

A big thank you to everyone who made this event a success! CLT is proud to foster spaces where science meets society, and we look forward to continuing the momentum from this inspiring day.

News