ABSTRACT
New and emerging sciences and technologies present particular analytical problems for their investigators. This chapter addresses some of these problems while unpacking the example of synthetic biology. It focuses on what synthetic biology can deliver to researchers in the social sciences and humanities on topics that are of broader interest, namely: engineering knowledge, moral economy, governance, publics, and collaboration. Many scientists and engineers were initially drawn to synthetic biology out of a dissatisfaction with the contemporary biosciences, be it how they are organised, funded, or owned. Synthetic biologists recognised themselves as part of a social and political endeavour as well as a technical one, and for this reason welcomed somewhat experimental collaboration with social scientists, humanities scholars, artists, designers, and other groups. As social sciences and humanities researchers invested in making biotechnologies diverse, plural, and reflexive, we may come to find our goals are best served by moving beyond synthetic biology.
