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Engineering Life

@engineeringlife.bsky.social
117 followers 82 following 2 posts

We are the Engineering Life group of STS researchers at the University of Edinburgh -- Jane Calvert, Reuben Message, Rob Smith & Sophie Stone

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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 18/09/2026
The University of Edinburgh is a world-class institution and our members are determined to protect it. With an estimated 1,800 jobs at risk, staff are ready to strike for 25 days to defend jobs and the future of the university. Management can end this dispute: rule out compulsory redundancies.
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
So happy this is finally out. The first paper in our attempt to begin to think about spaces for responsible innovation beyond the tired tropes of ELSI panels etc. #sts #rri #soba
doi.org
The Soba Restaurant and the Oyster Bar: Peripheral Spaces for Responsible Research and Innovation
As STS researchers working closely with scientists and engineers, we have been invited into, created, reluctantly entered, and stumbled upon many kinds of spaces, some of which might be considered ...
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
Also our new book came out! It's technically a textbook, but should be a good primer for anyone trying to work out how to understand synbio in society using an approach global.oup.com/ukhe/product... #synbio #engbio #sts #governance
Book cover at the link below
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
a collaborative researcher's packing list.
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Sigh. This is such a terrible take on synthetic human genomes that just repeats tropes of the past. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Synthetic Human Genome Project gets go ahead
Scientists start a controversial project to create the building blocks of human life, in what is thought to be a world first.
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 20/06/2025
Incredible support for our staff at @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social on picket lines today in their fight against management's plans to slash budgets and jobs ✊
Large number of UCU members at Edinburgh rally
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
I'm still not sure what to make of a meeting that in many ways replayed the meeting it was thinking with (and all the tired tropes we've learnt since then), but I am VERY into it accommodating our weird events on the beach. #asilomar #sts #synbio www.science.org/content/arti...
A photo of Blue from Pigeonwing dance company digging a hole on a beach
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Sophie Stone @sarstone.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
The Biological Engineering Collaboratory's next session, "If a squirrel falls in the woods", is tomorrow, 3pm (UK time). Rob and Sarah will talk about squirrels, gene drive technology and governance of environmental synthetic biology. Want to join us? It's online and open to all, DM me for details.
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Emma Kowal @profemmakowal.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
For the first SSN seminar for 2025, Professor Jane Calvert will talk about her remarkable new book that reflects on the value and the limits of interdisciplinary collaboration & the 'place' of science and technology studies (STS). Join us online on Feb 18th!
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Some promo! On Monday I'll be talking about Asilomar, why old visions of governance repeat, why it's so tiring and whether there's any way out of that loop. That's in Exeter at the wonderful Egenis Centre.
a castle in tuscany, surrounded by clouds. The text on it says 'Conferences as sites of governance, or haunted by dreams of a tuscan castle'
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Engineering Life @engineeringlife.bsky.social · 07/10/2024
New Research Fellow job on pollinators at Science, Technology and Innovation Studies in Edinburgh! Working with #STS researcher Jane Calvert, ecologist Chris Kaiser-Bunbury, philosopher John Dupré and artist Daisy Ginsberg. Apply by 14th October 2024: elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
Research Fellow (Pollinator Pathway)
We are looking for a Research Fellow with experience of analytical and empirical social scientific research, including interviews and discussion groups, to join the UKRI-funded project ‘If pollinators...
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 15/05/2024
We wrote a paper about some of our experiences being in and trying to create spaces for responsible innovation in #synbio and #molbot. It's a preprint so thoughts and comments would be lovely to have! #sts Oh and it has my favourite title ever.... doi.org/10.31235/osf...
a drawing of a circle of colourful soba noodles with people chatting informally. in the centre is a black and white elsi panel with people saying the same thing over and over again. the drawing is by Anais Moisy
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 08/02/2024
We have a slightly strange (long contract; part-time) but quite exciting job for an #sts person to work with an environmentally-focused #synbio lab led by the amazing Louise Horsfall in Edinburgh. Happy to answer any questions! elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid...
elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com
Postdoctoral Research Associate
We are looking for an independent and motivated PhD level graduate in the social sciences to study the use of synthetic biology in environmental applications, exploring the social, ethical, and environmental dimensions of Engineering Biology to inform decision-making and promote the integration of research advances within the broader context of environmental biotechnology.
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Janella @janellabaxter.bsky.social · 09/01/2024
My dear and brilliant friend, Jane Calvert, has a great new book released through MIT Press on the question of where STS fits in the academy. Check A Place for Science and Technology Studies! mitpress.mit.edu/9780262546942/
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Engineering Life @engineeringlife.bsky.social · 12/02/2024
Thank you Janella!! What a nice message to find when we've just joined blue sky!
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Rob Smith @rdjs.bsky.social · 09/02/2024
Wondering how £100m for "UK #biotech firms to help pioneer new technologies" for flood protection and all I can come up with is giant beavers... www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Biotech driving medical breakthroughs and cuts to red tape lead major science and tech package to spark UK innovation and growth
Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan set out the importance of the UK’s mission to be a science and technology superpower.
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