Symposium Program:

The symposium schedule includes presentations by students and faculty across the sciences and humanities, including two keynote lectures. The presentations will include lectures on the science and implementation of CRISPR, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding the CRISPR technology.

An interdisciplinary student poster session will provide an opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary conversations. Students (graduate and undergraduate) are invited to present a poster on their own disciplinary research to a general, interdisciplinary audience. The goal of the poster session is to encourage curiosity, understanding, and scholarly discourse beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students are encouraged to present their work in a way that’s accessible to those with little background knowledge in their discipline.

Schedule of Events:

Time Session Topics

9:00 AM Welcome and Introduction – Dr. Heidi Hendrickson (Lafayette College)

9:10 AM Introduction to CRISPR – Samantha Ganser, Swati Pandey (Student organizers)

9:40 AM CRISPR as a Genetic Technology – Dr. Bruce Wightman (Muhlenberg College)

10:10 AM Break for coffee and discussion

10:30 AM Introduction to Ethical Reasoning – Dr. Peter Gildenhuys (Lafayette College)

11:00 AM Keynote Lecture: Rewriting the Code of Life with CRISPR Technology – Dr. Sam Sternberg (Columbia University)

11:40 AM Lunch and Student Poster Session (Location: Marlo Room, Farinon Student Center, Lafayette College)

1:15 PM Book Raffle (Location: the Williams Center for the Arts)

1:30 PM The Promise of CRISPR – Dr. K. Joy Karnas (Cedar Crest College)

2:00 PM Keynote Lecture on The Future with CRISPR – Dr. Rina Bliss (Rutgers University)

2:40 PM Break for coffee and discussion

3:00 PM Speaker Panel with Audience Discussion – Facilitated by Dr. Heidi Hendrickson (Lafayette College)

3:40 PM Misinformation and Navigating the Age of CRISPR – Dr. Justin Hines (Lafayette College)

4:10 PM No Such Thing As Good Science Without Interdisciplinarity – Dr. Neha Vora (Lafayette College)

4:40 PM Closing Reflections – Samantha Ganser, Swati Pandey (Student organizers)

Poster drop-off/set-up will take place from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM in the Marlo Room, Farinon College Center, Lafayette College.