Listen ⚡️ DeSci Ep. #6 | Commercializing Science for Climate Solutions—with George Church & Ben Lamm of Colossal
“Success is about benefiting society. Survival of the species is the minimum thing that you can do. But it turns out that that's pretty hard, where we are right now. So, anything you can do to help that help the next generation get going.” — George Church
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ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In academia, most scientists publish their ideas and stop there. But if we want our breakthroughs to benefit society, we have to take it a step further. So, what does it look like to commercialize scientific research? What mindset do academics need to work at the intersection of science and industry?
Ben Lamm has a career of building successful deep tech businesses, and George Church has a career of commercializing academic science. Together, they are the cofounders of Colossal, a breakthrough bioscience and genetic engineering company that is pioneering animal de-extinction technology to restore lost ecosystems for a healthier planet.
On this episode of Boost VC, Ben and George join us to explain how bringing back the woolly mammoth addresses climate change and explore their approach to the ethical concerns around de-extinction.
They discuss the benefits of Colossal technology beyond Arctic rewilding, describing how their work helps endangered animals and promotes conservation. Listen in for Ben and George’s insight on commercializing science and learn how to get comfortable enough with risk to turn academic ideas into industry.
Topics Covered
How George defines science
Predict and create new options for humanity
Goal to build better world
Why Ben & George are bringing back the woolly mammoth
Restore previous ratio of grass to trees
Sequester carbon at rate only possible in Arctic
How Ben & George approach the ethical concerns re: de-extinction
Believe in radical transparency
Learn from negative feedback, people who question
Why George works at the intersection of academia and industry
Likes to work with curious young people
Exposure to diversity of ideas
Why Colossal needs government collaboration and support
Several governments, Indigenous groups in Arctic
Climate change, biodiversity and species preservation
How woolly mammoths promote carbon removal
Knock down trees so more grass can grow
Cold, Arctic grasslands sequester carbon particularly well
The benefits of Colossal technology beyond Arctic rewilding
Eradicate EHV virus in elephants
Promote species conservation
How Ben & George think about commercializing science
Go beyond publication to help society
Feedback from investors and academia
What makes Ben & George’s partnership work
George’s lab provides idea from academic study
Ben figures out product-market fit and funding
George’s advice to academics on commercializing products
Can’t be afraid of failure
Can come back from bankruptcy
How Ben & George think about taking big risks
Ben believed grandmother saying he could do anything
Academic failures taught George he would survive
The impact Ben & George hope to make with Colossal
Ex utero development, species preservation
Thousands of Arctic elephants to sequester carbon
Advancements in reading and writing of genomes
How Ben & George define success
Benefit society, facilitate survival of species
Create things that are additive
Connect with George Church & Ben Lamm
Colossal https://colossal.com
Colossal on Twitter https://twitter.com/ItIsColossal
Colossal on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itiscolossal/
Colossal on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/itiscolossal/
George on Twitter https://twitter.com/geochurch
Ben on Twitter https://twitter.com/federallamm
Resources
Citizen Science https://www.citizenscience.gov/#
Personal Genome Project https://www.personalgenomes.org/
How to Grow (Almost) Anything https://www.media.mit.edu/courses/htgaa/
DIYbio https://diybio.org/
Church Lab https://arep.med.harvard.edu/
Hypergiant https://www.hypergiant.com/
Pleistocene Park https://pleistocenepark.ru/
Chris Mason Author Talk https://mitpress.mit.edu/blog/author-talk-the-next-500-years-by-christopher-e-mason/
Prehistoric Planet https://tv.apple.com/us/show/prehistoric-planet/umc.cmc.4lh4bmztauvkooqz400akxav
Adam Draper
Managing Director at @BoostVC // Seed investor in @Coinbase, @Amplitude_HQ, @Benchling, Wave Mobile Money // Board Member of @Skybound I like comic books. #Bitcoin