CHAPTER 7: Convergence of Chemistry and Biology, and Nanotechnology

At the turn of the 21st century, convergence (the integration of theoretical concepts, experimental methods and scientific knowledge at the intersection of chemistry and biology) has become a prominent driver of the life sciences. New scientific sub-disciplines have evolved (the “omics”, synthetic biology, systems biology and many more), and transformational methods such as CRISPR Cas9 have spread across the research community and transformed the way in which biology is done. Other technological advances, too, have acted as enablers for scientific progress and promoted the practical application of new insights and techniques. Nanotechnology offers interesting concepts and tools that may change the way in which medical treatments are being delivered to target, toxic chemicals are being sensed in humans and the environment, or contamination with toxic (or infectious) agents is being avoided, treated or remedied. How these advances in science and technology affect the Chemical Weapons Convention will depend on how widely and deeply they will penetrate society: whether and at what scale industry will use them in applications ranging from defence to energy and food production, managing the impact of global warming, or manufacturing consumer goods. Such changes in science and industry, in the patterns of industrial and trade activity, and in the use of chemicals in society need to be carefully assessed to understand their potential risks for arms control. New discoveries could lead to novel chemical agents, new methods of chemical weapons production, or even new forms of chemical warfare. At the same time, such assessments must take account of the societal drivers that move science, technology and industrial application forward, and of the benefits that these advances can bring to society. In a more Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)-focused way, such assessments need to balance any potential risks with the benefits they can bring for protections against chemical weapons and for international cooperation in chemistry for peaceful purposes. This chapter provides an overview of recent trends in chemical and biological convergence and nanotechnology, discusses how they affect the Chemical Weapons Convention and its operation at national as well as international levels, and it highlights some of the governance approaches that are needed to manage the risks inherent in these advances whilst maximising their societal benefits.