Online course in Science, Engineering & Maths

Next Generation Biosecurity: Responding to 21st Century Biorisks

Learn about biosecurity, biosafety and bioethics, and why they're vital - inside and outside of the lab.

Next Generation Biosecurity: Responding to 21st Century Biorisks

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Overview
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  • Duration 6 weeks
  • Weekly study 4 hours
  • Learn Free
  • Extra benefits From $84 Find out more

Explore biosecurity and learn how to respond to biological threats

Today’s world is facing more biological threats than ever, from mutations to antibiotic resistance to new diseases and increased access to engineered diseases. It’s vital that scientific research is being carried out safely to protect those who work in the lab as well as wider communities.

On this course you will get an introduction to these issues, exploring biosecurity, biological threats and how to counter them in your work. You will also learn about responding to biological challenges and learn to examine issues in the lab.

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What topics will you cover?

  • Introduction to biosecurity
  • Biological threats and challenges
  • Responding to biological challenges: what you can do inside the lab
  • Responding to biological challenges: what is done outside the lab
  • Responsible conduct of science: learning to critically examine security issues arising with the lab and formulate responses

When would you like to start?

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Understand and explain the need for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, and what these entail
  • Describe the biosecurity challenges facing the 21st century, especially as the revolution in life sciences continues
  • Discuss how biosecurity policies, practices and guidelines are developed at international and national levels and how to contribute to these processes
  • Identify areas of security and ethical concern within the life sciences and reflect on strategies and approaches to deal with them as they arise
  • Summarise what it means to be safe in the lab, how to apply these principles and what to expect from others to keep you and the community safe from accidental and deliberate actions

Who is the course for?

This course is for professionals working in public and global health, international security, politics and international relations. It may be of particular use to biosafety officers in academia, industry or government, and early-career science scholars in the life sciences.

Who will you learn with?

Kathryn Millett

Kathryn Millett

Kathryn Millett is the Director of Biosecure, a company dedicated to safeguarding
the bioeconomy, and strengthening biosecurity through education, training and policy advocacy

Brett Edwards

Brett Edwards

I am a Lecturer in Security and Public Policy, with an interest in the relationships between technology and international security

Who developed the course?

University of Bath

The University of Bath is one of the UK’s leading universities both in terms of research and our reputation for excellence in teaching, learning and graduate prospects.

Biosecure

Biosecure is committed to supporting those working in the biosciences to better understand and manage biorisks.

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