Preventing Biological Threats: What You Can Do
The University of Bradford has developed two authoritative books on biological security education. The books, which are aimed at lecturers and undergraduates studying life science courses, are freely available as educational tools designed to assist students, faculty members, researchers and professionals in developing a better understanding of biological security issues in the twenty-first century and how they can be addressed.
The project started in August 2014 when the University of Bradford was awarded a project grant for the development of a resource for promoting biological security education globally, and has been jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and the UK under the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The new books produced by disarmament experts at Bradford and from around the world are designed to help scientists understand how their important, benignly-intended work may be misused by others in a hostile way, and give them guidance on how they can prevent this.
The first book titled ‘Preventing Biological Threats: What you can do’ provides an overview of the potential biological threats from States and sub-State groups and what States, organisations, scientists, and the international community as a whole are doing, and can do, to deal with such threats. The book intends to raise awareness and knowledge of biological security of everyone active in the life sciences, ranging from those engaged in research to those engaged in management and policy-making, both nationally and internationally.
The second book, ‘Biological Security Education Handbook: The Power of Team-Based Learning’ seeks to facilitate the dissemination of training content by offering guidance on how to design Team-Based Learning seminars and training courses, in order to involve groups of scientists at all levels in discussion of these issues and what can be done to prevent the potential threats.
Among the key contributors to the Project are the US National Academy of Sciences, Royal Scientific Society – Jordan, International Federation of Biosafety Associations, Centre for Biosecurity and Preparedness – Denmark, Public Health Agency of Canada, US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jordanian Armed Forces, Royal Medical Society – Jordan, Ministry of Health – Jordan, and INTERPOL. The list of contributors further features prominent disarmament experts, practitioners, and academics.
The books are freely available online at the links below. The respective Appendices contain relevant additional guiding material and resources.
Preventing Biological Threats What You Can Do (PDF, 10.6mb)
Preventing Biological Theatres APPENDIX A (PDF, 82.5kb)
Biological Security Handbook The Power of Team-Based Learning (PDF, 42kb)
Biological Security Education Handbook APPENDIX A (PDF, 60kb)
Biological Security Education Handbook APPENDIX B (PDF, 77.6kb)