GRF Young Professionals Program
2024 - 2025 Term
Second Meeting
November 23, 2024

The second meeting of the 2024-2025 term of the GRF Young Professionals Program, which aims to provide a platform for young professionals who are equipped with the resolve, background, and experience to contribute to the future of Turkey and the world, was held on November 23, 2024.

The meeting, centered around the themes of “Synthetic Biology” and “Transhumanism,” featured presentations exploring the anticipated medium- to long-term developments in synthetic biology and nanotechnology, along with their potential environmental, economic, and social implications. Discussions primarily focused on designing policy-making processes and governance mechanisms to address the risks and opportunities posed by these technologies.

Mr. Ussal Şahbaz, GRF member and the Founder & Managing Partner of Ussal Consultancy, also participated in the meeting, delivering a speech that addressed prominent global technology trends and evaluated Turkey’s technology ecosystem and policies.

The presenters used the following books to as a reference point in addressing their selected topics:

The Synthetic Age: Outdesigning Evolution, Resurrecting Species, and Reengineering Our World - Christopher J. Preston

The Transhumanist Revolution: How Techno-Medicine and Uberization Will Upend Our Lives - Luc Ferry