Recommendations for partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in synthetic biology in Australia

As the National Science Agency, CSIRO is committed to “working with Indigenous communities and organisations to create Indigenous-driven science solutions that support sustainable futures for Indigenous peoples, cultures and Country” (Indigenous science - CSIRO). CSIRO’s Future Science & Technology Plan (2020) identifies “breakthrough science” to include “Indigenous knowledge and science” as one of nine key capability areas that cross science disciplines and to deliver impact through innovation for all Australians. The Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform (AEB FSP), which hosts much of the CSIRO’s current synbio research, also recognises the value of Indigenous Australians and identifies Indigenous science as a key principle. The Recommendations for Partnering with Indigenous Australians in Synthetic Biology presented here provide one mechanism for CSIRO synbio scientists and their partners to consider future avenues for ‘best practice’ research partnership development with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Indigenous Australians). Because the characteristics of a partnership will differ depending on each Indigenous community/group, the project scale, the context of synbio application and other considerations, these recommendations are not a one size fits all approach. Rather, they are intended as a starting provocation and/or invitation to plan and undertake earlier, more inclusive and respectful partnerships with Indigenous Australians in synbio related projects as part of CSIRO’s larger Indigenous Science and Engagement work. Informed by desktop review of various frameworks, policies and recommendations within the Australian context that consider research partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples, empirical data shared during discussions in the Torres Strait, and practical experiences of some of the reports’ (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) authors, we recommend a set of core principles, ordered around 3 priority areas identified in CSIRO’s RAP December 2021 – December 2023: relationships, respect, and opportunities.