Episode 3
2. The Biotech Century with Megan Palmer
Why biology, why now? How will it transform our world? How do we create policies and regulation to ensure we advance biotechnology responsibly and protect our shared biological futures. In our first interview, we speak with Megan Palmer who leads Stanford’s Bio Policy and Leadership Initiatives in…
Show notes
Why biology, why now? How will it transform our world? How do we create policies and regulation to ensure we advance biotechnology responsibly and protect our shared biological futures. In our first interview, we speak with Megan Palmer who leads Stanford’s Bio Policy and Leadership Initiatives in their Department of Bioengineering.
Grow Everything brings to life the bioeconomy when hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories from the field and interview leaders and influencers in the space. Life is a powerful force and it can be engineered. What are we creating?
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:47 Why it's an exciting time to be in biotechnology
- 03:50 The intersection between policy, ethics, and government in biotechnology
- 05:52 Executive order on advancing biotechnology
- 07:12 Biotech and why it matters
- 09:05 Megan's origin story
- 13:17 Megan's experience working with government agencies
- 15:20 Working with policymakers globally and in the US
- 17:00 Understanding biotechnology innovation policies globally
- 21:39 The good and the bad of bureaucracy
- 24:00 What is a Gene Drive?
- 32:06 iGEM and other social responsibility programs
- 35:01 Community impacts and the birth of Bio stories
- 40:21 Imagine a world where everyone can build with biology
- 43:04 Parting thoughts
Episode Links:
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Topics: synthetic biology, entrepreneurship, policy, community, education, biotech, life sciences, bioeconomy, biomanufacturing, Biotechnology, synthetic biology, the biotech century, world economic forum
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media
About Grow Everything
Grow Everything reveals the world of biology as technology. Hosts Erum Azeez Khan and Karl Schmieder talk with the founders, scientists, and executives biologizing entire industries — biomaterials from waste, precision fermentation, cultivated food — and unpack how the bioeconomy is solving health and climate challenges. Winner of SynBioBeta's 2026 Impact Award.