Nobel Prize Laureate Dr Jennifer Doudna to appear at the Sydney Opera House

Sydney — Wednesday 24 January 2024

Dr Doudna co-earned the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of CRISPR-Cas9. This profoundly powerful tool enables scientists to edit DNA – the code of life – with astounding precision.

Over the past decade, CRISPR has ignited a scientific revolution offering potential cures for genetic illnesses including cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell disease and the prevention of childhood asthma. Solutions are also being developed in response to agriculture and climate related challenges such as reducing methane emissions of cattle and other livestock.

In The Gene Editing Revolution, Dr Doudna will reflect on CRISPR’s development, enlighten audiences on the great promise – and peril – of this transformative technology, the latest applications, as well as the ethical implications and critical need to ensure that CRISPR be fairly accessed to improve our collective future. 

Dr Jennifer Doudna says: “CRISPR can positively change our health and our world. We have seen the technology make remarkable impact already with even more breakthrough applications to come. My hope is that we continue to responsibly develop and deploy CRISPR technology for the benefit of humankind. I look forward to talking about all the possibilities and more in such an innovative venue, the Sydney Opera House.”

Sydney Opera House Head of Talks & Ideas, Chip Rolley says: “We are honoured to present Jennifer Doudna and thrilled that in doing so Sydney Opera House can play a role in ensuring we all gain a better understanding of both the benefits and the potential ethical quandaries we face as the CRISPR gene editing revolution she has sparked starts to spread. Will this technology save people’s lives? Yes. Does it have the potential to be used unethically? Yes. Dr Doudna will delve into all the implications for us in an event that is sure to inspire and perhaps spark our own imaginations.”