The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in cooperation with the Biosecurity Working Group of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), will convene an international workshop to discuss strategies to promote sustained global dialogue and increased common understandings of the essential elements of governance for research in the life sciences to address biosecurity concerns and dual use issues. An ad hoc committee of international experts appointed by the National Academies would organize the workshop, including identifying participants and designing the agenda. The 2.5 day meeting will combine plenary sessions and working groups, with topics selected to reflect current issues and emerging areas of common ground.

It is anticipated that the workshop will be held in Geneva, Switzerland in order to increase the engagement with the diplomatic community that covers the BWC, as well as other relevant international organizations such as the World Health Organization. Arrangements will be made with a local organization via a subagreement to handle the organization of the workshop, including meeting and travel arrangements for the participants in the workshop.

A proceedings of the discussions during the workshop will be written by a designated rapporteur and produced by the National Academies Press.