"A biochemist by training, I am currently an assistant professor at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Most of my research in biochemistry has been directed at investigating how metabolic enzymes from Bacteria and Archaea work. (Archaea is a domain of life that includes the single-celled extremophiles.) I currently teach medical, pharmacy and graduate students, and direct a research lab focused on two projects: one on a pair of enzymes that mediate resistance to the antibiotic streptomycin, and the other on the tryptophan biosynthetic enzyme anthranilate synthase." Byrnes has published over a dozen papers in scientific journals over the course of his research career.
Dr. Byrnes discusses the roots of his interest in climate change issues: "In recent years, I have become concerned with ethical issues in human genetic technology, as well as with cultural and religious issues surrounding the ecological crisis, especially global climate change… I am a strong proponent of what might be called the ecological imperative, which states that we humans must strive to preserve the integrity of the natural world by avoiding technologies that irresponsibly change the genetic makeup of organisms, especially humans. This imperative argues against human genetic technologies such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and germline engineering, for example, because they will alter the collective human genetic inheritance. It opposes all technologies that involve human genetic engineering and human cloning. Ultimately, the ecological imperative is based on the notion that the Earth, because of its ancient evolutionary history and the profound interconnectedness of the life it supports, is deserving of deep respect. Our role is to listen to the wisdom of the Earth that arises from this history and this interconnectedness. An ecological awareness should guide all aspects of our lives, whether they are medical, cultural, or even religious."
Author of more than twenty articles and book reviews in bioethics and ecological ethics in addition to his papers in biomedical fields, Byrnes’ international publications are spurring many to consider the religious and cultural aspects of climate change and to become accountable as individuals with regard to this issue. Byrnes’ work focuses on the moral foundations of personal responsibility in relation to climate issues: "The issue of gravest importance to humanity today is global climate change brought on by the consumption of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the Earth’s atmosphere, causing it to warm. It is critical that we humans drastically reduce our carbon footprint in order to avoid the ecological devastation and human suffering that will result from unfettered climate change. This will require that the technologically advanced nations of the world switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. But, it will also require a lifestyle change on the part of the world’s wealthy nations. How will this happen? It will happen only if we begin to see the world in a more ecological light. It will require a conversion of heart that is born of the realization that what we do and how we live can profoundly and negatively affect others."*
The EcoRes Forum is proud to welcome Professor Malcolm Byrnes to our Panel of Experts for the April 2007 e-conference and wishes to recognize his commitment to raising awareness on the personal responsibility of each individual to taking action on the issue of climate change.
*Special thanks to Professor Byrnes for permission to reprint the above biographical excerpts.
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