The Biosecurity Knowledge Day took place some time ago, but we would like to take a moment to look back on this day. Inspiring speakers such as Jaap van Dissel and Jochem Nooyen, exchanging experiences during the parallel sessions, and engaging conversations during lunch and the reception; the evaluation shows that these were the ingredients for a successful event.

Jaap van Dissel kicked off the 8th edition of the Biosecurity Knowledge Day. With his vivid presentation, he highlighted the importance of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and communication about them. Following that, Rik Bleijs provided an overview of the latest developments in biosecurity, the Ministry of the Interior gave a glimpse into the Chemical/Biological threat assessment, and our international guest Tatyana Novossiolova discussed the impact of scientific and technological progress on existing regulatory regimes (including the Biological Weapons Convention, BTWC) and the various ethical, social, and security issues arising from it.

Are your thoughts still safe?

"Knowing that nobody can see you and that you can truly be yourself. That doesn't happen very often anymore. We are being watched everywhere, both physically and digitally." This became apparent during the Privacy & Infosecurity Show by illusionist Jochem Nooyen. With humorous stories, interactive experiments, and thrilling acts, Jochem made it clear to the audience that humans are the weakest link in the security chain.

Parallel sessions

After the energetic illusion show, it was time to get involved. During the session "Espionage on Foreign Travel," the risks were made clear, and practical tips and tools were provided through compelling examples. "Dual-Use in your organization?" remains an interesting but also complex topic that will certainly return in the coming years. The session on biosecurity education provided Bureau Biosecurity with valuable input and direction to actively address this theme in the coming year. The session on "behavioral change and awareness" outlined the theoretical framework of factors that can influence behavior.

Save the date - November 2, 2023

The date for the eighth Biosecurity Knowledge Day is already set, but the program is still wide open! We leave room for new developments and would love to hear what participants are interested in. So, if you have suggestions for next year's program or would like to contribute, please let us know! [ignore]biosecurity@rivm.nl[/ignore].