Ocean's day Panel: Governing Synthetic Biology in Marine Environments: Regulation, Risk, and Opportunity
Panel Summary
As synthetic biology advances, its potential applications in marine and aquatic systems, from bioremediation and resource recovery to ecosystem monitoring and restoration, are becoming increasingly tangible. However, translating these innovations from the lab to real-world environments raises important questions around governance, regulation, and societal impact.
This panel brings together Siva Thambisetty (London School of Economics) and Tom Pickerell (World Resources Institute) to explore how emerging synthetic biology applications intersect with legal frameworks, ocean policy, and global sustainability goals.
The discussion will address key challenges, including:
How existing regulatory frameworks apply to engineered organisms in marine environments
The role of international governance, including developments around marine genetic resources
Balancing innovation and environmental risk, particularly in open or semi-open ecosystems
The opportunities for synthetic biology to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable blue bioeconomy
By bringing together perspectives from law, policy, and ocean governance, this panel aims to provide a timely and interdisciplinary discussion on how synthetic biology can be responsibly developed and deployed in marine contexts.
Speaker Bio - Siva Thambisetty
Dr Siva Thambisetty is an Associate Professor of Law at the London School of Economics, where her research focuses on the governance of innovation, genetic resources, and emerging technologies.
Her work explores how legal frameworks, particularly around intellectual property, biodiversity, and global governance, shape the development and distribution of new technologies. In recent years, she has been closely involved in international policy discussions on marine genetic resources and digital sequence information, with a strong focus on equity and Global South perspectives.
Dr Thambisetty has contributed directly to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty negotiations, serving as an advisor to Pacific Small Island Developing States and as an expert on the G77 Chair’s team. She has also led research funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme and the EPSRC, including projects on synthetic biology and marine genetic resources under the Nagoya Protocol.
She currently leads the Ocean Biodiversity Collective at LSE, an initiative engaging in policy discussions on the governance of ocean biodiversity and emerging international frameworks.
Her work bridges academic research and real-world policy, providing critical insights into how legal systems can support more equitable and sustainable approaches to innovation in global environmental contexts.
Speaker Bio - Tom Pickrell
Dr Tom Pickerell is the Global Director of the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Head of the Secretariat for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, where he works to translate ocean science into actionable policy, partnerships, and investment strategies.
A marine biologist with over 25 years of global experience, Tom has built his career at the intersection of ocean science, sustainable seafood, and international policy. He has held leadership roles across major organisations including WWF-UK, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch programme, where he championed science-based fisheries management and cross-sector collaboration.
His work focuses on helping governments, industry, and global institutions develop practical, scalable solutions for ocean sustainability, spanning areas such as fisheries management, aquaculture, ocean governance, and climate–ocean policy. He has also led and contributed to global initiatives aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and sustainability in seafood supply chains.
Tom holds a PhD in Marine Biology (shellfish genetics) from Swansea University and is a Fellow of the Marine Biological Association. He brings a collaborative, evidence-based approach to leadership, working to advance a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable ocean economy.