Registration for ‘Responsible Bio Innovation x Rethinking Knowledge’ conference is in progress

‘Democratic & Responsible Bio-Innovation’ and ‘Rethinking Knowledge in Democratic, Inclusive & Evolving Europe’ are the topics of the FORTHEM conference: ‘Responsible Bio Innovation x Rethinking Knowledge’, which will take place online from 26 to 28 November 2025.

The conference will bring together researchers and practitioners from the fields of biology and engineering, as well as social sciences, humanities and education. The aim is to create responsible, democratic and sustainable innovations for Europe.

We invite you to submit works that combine modern science with ethics, inclusion and social impact, works inspired by the FORTHEM Alliance’s efforts to bring the worlds of science and society closer together.

The conference agenda will cover two areas:

• Democratic & Responsible Bio-Innovation — aligning bio-tech breakthroughs with ethics, safety, sustainability, and security.
• Rethinking Knowledge in Democratic, Inclusive & Evolving Europe — re-imagining how knowledge is produced, governed, taught, and shared across cultures and systems.

We will particularly value interdisciplinary projects, collaborative works by researchers from various FORTHEM universities, and submissions that link scientific progress with social and humanistic thought.

REGISTRATION

Sessions:

„Democratic & Responsible Bio‑Innovation”

Topics include (but are not limited to):

1. AI‑Driven Biosciences & Ethical Autonomy — algorithmic transparency, bias, and autonomy in genomics, diagnostics, and drug discovery.
2. Bioconvergence & Resilient Innovation Ecosystems — inclusive governance for biology × engineering × digital convergence.
3. Sustainable Bioeconomy & Nature‑Based Solutions — circular biotech, algae‑based fuels, waste‑to‑resource systems, environmental justice.
4. Next‑Gen Therapies & Fair Health Innovation — equity, long‑term safety, and regulation of gene editing, mRNA, and cell‑based therapies.
5. Green, Safe & Digital Laboratories — sustainable lab infrastructures, automation, and risk management in digital transitions.
6. Microbiome & Multi‑Omics in Health, Food & Environment — ethics, regulation, and public trust for multi‑omics data.
7. Coastal & Environmental Security in a Warming Europe — marine biotech, biodiversity monitoring, community resilience.
8. One Health, Pandemic Preparedness & Biosecurity — risk literacy, global health diplomacy, and antimicrobial resistance.

„Rethinking Knowledge in Democratic, Inclusive & Evolving Europe”

Topics include (but are not limited to):

1. Cultural Heritage & Identity — belonging, civic identity, and democratic resilience; digital preservation and conservation science.
2. Multilingualism, Language Justice & Knowledge Access — inclusive pedagogy, translation of science and policy, equitable communication.
3. Democratic Innovation, Participation & Epistemic Justice — trust, polarization, citizen science, open science, research evaluation.
4. Transforming Higher Education: Governance, Values & Alliances — European University Alliances as spaces for institutional change (e.g., FORTHEM).
5. Researching Learning & Teaching in Multicultural, Digital Contexts — engagement, digital literacy, AI in education, decolonizing curricula.
6. Migration, Belonging & Plural Knowledge Systems — inclusive citizenship, indigenous and migrant knowledge.
7. Ethics, Governance & Human Impact of Technology — responsible AI, surveillance, data protection, inclusive design.
8. Environmental Humanities for Sustainability & Wellbeing — cultural narratives for ecological futures.

Contact: aleksandra.krems@uni.opole.pl