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GES Center Publications

GES Center Publications

By: Genetic Engineering and Society Center
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 The GES Center Publications podcast brings you clear, accessible overviews of articles by NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society faculty and students. Each episode is generated with Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to highlight key findings and insights on the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Show notes include full citations, abstracts, author information, and links for deeper reading—or you can browse the entire collection at go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubs. Looking for more ways to engage? Don’t miss our companion show, GES Center Lectures, featuring live recordings from our Colloquium series at go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast.Copyright 2026 Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S2E2 - PreMiEr Workshop Report on Responsible Microbiome Engineering

    S2E2 - PreMiEr Workshop Report on Responsible Microbiome Engineering
    Feb 13 2026
    PreMiEr SEI 2025 Workshop Report Overview

    Listen to a conversational deep dive into the PreMiEr SEI Workshop Report, exploring the shift from sterilization to precision microbiome engineering and the ethical, scientific, and governance questions that come with it. Generated using Google Gemini and based on the workshop report, the episode highlights key insights and takeaways for researchers and collaborators.

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    This episode of the GES Publications podcast provides an AI-generated overview of the article below, highlighting key findings and insights into the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Episodes are created using Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to summarize faculty and student publications from NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center.

    Citation

    Das, Z., Landreville, K.D., and Kuzma, J. (2025) PreMiEr SEI Workshop Report: Social and Ethical Dimensions of Microbiome Engineering in the Built Environment. Genetic Engineering and Society Center, NC State University. Online at https://go.ncsu.edu/premier-sei-workshop-report-2025

    Authors

    Zoya Das, Kristen D. Landreville, and Jennifer Kuzma

    Abstract

    The 2025 PreMiEr SEI Workshop brought together nearly 50 researchers, students, and practitioners to explore the social and ethical dimensions of microbiome engineering in the built environment. Over a half-day virtual program, participants heard invited talks on ethical futures of microbiome science, responsible governance, public attitudes and risk perceptions, virtue ethics for researchers, “ghost variables” in media and policy, community engagement in built environments, and household experiences with mold and environmental exposure. Breakout groups then worked with structured prompts to identify priority SEI questions, opportunities for collaboration, and concrete needs from the SEI Core.

    Across talks and discussions, participants emphasized that rigorous, responsible microbiome engineering requires attention to justice as a bioethical principle, community engagement, methodological rigor, and the socioeconomic conditions that shape both microbiomes and health. They called for governance frameworks grounded in Responsible Research and Innovation, and for engagement approaches that connect technical microbiome work to lived experiences of exposure, housing, water, and inequality. This report documents the workshop agenda, summarizes each session, synthesizes breakout themes, and outlines recommendations for the PreMiEr SEI Core.

    Genetic Engineering and Society Center

    Explore More

    • Browse the full GES publication library: go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubs
    • Learn about the GES Center: go.ncsu.edu/ges
    • For live recordings from our Colloquium series, subscribe to our companion podcast, GES Center Lectures : go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast

    GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

    Produced by Patti Mulligan, Communications Director, GES Center, NC State

    Find out more at https://ges-publications.pinecast.co
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    18 mins
  • S2E1 - Fighting Biology with Biology: Engineering the Disaster Microbiome

    S2E1 - Fighting Biology with Biology: Engineering the Disaster Microbiome
    Jan 13 2026
    Fighting Biology with Biology: Engineering the Disaster Microbiome Public perceptions and support for microbiome engineering to combat mold growth in disaster relief efforts Download episode transcript This episode of the GES Publications podcast provides an AI-generated overview of the article below, highlighting key findings and insights into the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Episodes are created using Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to summarize faculty and student publications from NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. Citation Cummings, C.L., Landreville, K.D. & Kuzma, J. (2026) Public perceptions and support for microbiome engineering to combat mold growth in disaster relief efforts. Environ Syst Decis 46, 3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-025-10062-x. PDF. Graphic Authors Christopher Cummings, Kristen Landreville, and Jennifer Kuzma Abstract Mold contamination poses persistent challenges in disaster relief shelters, where moisture, limited ventilation, and dense occupancy create conditions favorable for rapid fungal growth. Traditional prevention measures, such as chemical treatments and mechanical drying, often face logistical and resource limitations. Microbiome engineering has been proposed as a novel intervention, yet little is known about public perceptions of such an approach. This study presents the first empirical analysis of attitudes toward introduced microbiomes (IM) in the context of emergency housing. Using a nationally representative survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, we examined demographic, informational, emotional, and risk-related predictors of support across three dimensions: willingness to adopt IM in shelters, support for rigorous evaluation and testing, and support for survivor education. Hierarchical regression models explained 55.7% of variance in adoption, 27.4% in testing, and 21.4% in education support. Findings reveal that adoption support was driven by efficacy beliefs, trust, and affective responses; testing support was shaped by demographic factors and secondary risk concerns; and education support reflected demographic variation and threat appraisals. Across all models, interest in learning more about microbiome engineering consistently predicted higher support, while prior information-seeking often predicted greater caution. These results underscore the importance of integrating public perspectives alongside technical assessments when evaluating microbiome engineering for disaster relief. Significance This article, part of the NSF-funded PreMiEr project, examines U.S. public perceptions of introduced microbiomes as a potential intervention to mitigate mold in disaster relief shelters. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults, it shows that support varies across adoption, rigorous testing, and survivor education, and is shaped by factors such as efficacy beliefs, trust, emotions, demographics, and risk concerns. Its findings highlight how applying principles of responsible research and innovation (RRI)—including transparent evaluation, safeguards, and responsive engagement—can help align microbiome-based shelter interventions with diverse public values in high-stakes disaster contexts. Keywords Disaster relief shelters, Mold prevention, Introduced microbiomes, Microbiome engineering, Public perceptions, Risk perception, Responsible research and innovation (RRI) Genetic Engineering and Society Center Explore More Browse the full GES publication library: go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubs Learn about the GES Center: go.ncsu.edu/ges For live recordings from our Colloquium series, subscribe to our companion podcast, GES Center Lectures: go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology. Produced by Patti Mulligan, Communications Director, GES Center, NC State Find out more at https://ges-publications.pinecast.co
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    14 mins
  • S1E6 - Fighter Jet Wings: Bt Seed Blends and the Rise of Super-Migrator Pests

    S1E6 - Fighter Jet Wings: Bt Seed Blends and the Rise of Super-Migrator Pests
    Nov 19 2025
    Fighter Jet Wings: Bt Seed Blends and the Rise of Super-Migrator Pests This episode of the GES Publications podcast provides an AI-generated overview of the article below, highlighting key findings and insights into the societal dimensions of biotechnology. Episodes are created using Google Gemini’s NotebookLM to summarize faculty and student publications from NC State University’s Genetic Engineering and Society Center. Download episode transcript Citation Mikac, K. M., Dominguez Davila, J. H., Powley, M. J., Barclay, S., Pezzini, D., & Reisig, D. D. Helicoverpa zea selected on Bt corn have wing shapes better suited to long distance flight. Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaf117. PDF. Graphic. https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/publications/ Authors Katarina M. Mikac, Jose H. Dominguez Davila, Meagan J. Powley, Sarah Barclay, Daniela Pezzini, and Dominic D. Reisig Abstract Evolution of resistance within insects to pest control has resulted in changes to the organism’s morphotype, including changes in wing shape. Both geometric morphometric and finite element method (FEM) were used to examine wing changes in Helicoverpa zea sampled from 4 different Bt corn treatments in North and South Carolina, United States. The 4 treatments were pure-stand non-Bt corn (treatment 1); pure-stand Bt corn with 2 toxins (Cry1Ab and Cry1F; treatment 2); pure-stand Bt corn with 3 toxins (Cry1Ab, Cry1F, and Vip3A; treatment 3); and seed blended Bt corn with 80% containing 3 toxins (Cry1AB, Cry1F, and Vip3A) and 20% having no toxins (treatment 5). Geometric morphometric analyses revealed significant wing shape differences in both female and male moths were driven by moderately selected moths (treatments 2 and 5). Male and female moths, especially from treatment 5, had longer and more slender forewing shape conducive for longer distance flight. FEM modeling of the flight potential in both male and female H. zea revealed that the highest wing elastic deformation values for wind speed, indicating the most impact on wing structure, occurred for treatment 2> treatment 1> treatment 3> treatment 5. Wing elastic deformation was significantly more pronounced in female than male moths. In conclusion, we found that one generation of selection on Bt corn in the field could induce H. zea wing phenotypes more conducive for potential long-distance dispersal and should be further investigated by directly testing the impact on migratory flight. Our study contributes to the growing body of evidence that selection of H. zea on Bt crops may influence adult dispersal behavior. Significance This study shows that seed-blend refuges—designed to simplify refuge compliance—can rapidly select for Helicoverpa zea with longer, narrower, and more aerodynamic wings. These wing shapes resist deformation under wind stress, suggesting greater potential for long-distance flight and dispersal of resistance alleles. By revealing how seed blends may inadvertently favor more adaptable and Bt-resistant moths, this work highlights the need to integrate movement ecology and biomechanics into resistance monitoring and management. Keywords geometric morphometrics, finite element method, forewing shape, flight, Vip3A Genetic Engineering and Society Center Explore More Browse the full GES publication library: go.ncsu.edu/ges-pubs Learn about the GES Center: go.ncsu.edu/ges For live recordings from our Colloquium series, subscribe to our companion podcast, GES Center Lectures : go.ncsu.edu/ges-podcast GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology. Produced by Patti Mulligan, Communications Director, GES Center, NC State Find out more at https://ges-publications.pinecast.co
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    15 mins
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