October is Biosafety and Biosecurity Month.

Each year, ABSA International’s Public Relations and Marketing Committee has developed materials to support the endeavors of our fellow biosafety and biosecurity professionals at our institutions. This year, the committee has evolved to the Biosecurity Engagement and Promotion Committee, and our mission is to provide a theme and materials to our ABSA community remains steadfast. We also are bringing back presenting a theme for Biosafety and Biosecurity Month. This year, the theme is Enhancing Biosafety and Biosecurity Through Technology.

As natural and synthetic biological agents become easier to engineer and deploy, the traditional containment strategies are no longer enough. We are entering a new era of digital biosafety and biosecurity that is driven by technologies designed to detect, protect, and neutralize biological risks and threats before they escalate. AI, enhanced biosecurity through automated sequence screening processes, automation of sample handling, environmental controls in high-containment laboratories, wearable biometrics, and cyber-biosecurity to protect the research and lab from sabotage or hackers are all supporting a new-level of threat prevention, detection, and mitigation. That’s where we want to hear from you!

The Biosafety and Biosecurity Promotional Awards

How are you going to showcase this year’s theme at your institution? The Biosafety and Biosecurity Promotional Awards recognize ABSA International members in their efforts to promote biosafety through marketing campaigns at their institutions, colleges, and universities.

There are 2 categories of awards:

  • Biosafety and Biosecurity Month Outreach Award – This award recognizes distinction in the creation of innovative materials for biosafety and biosecurity marketing and outreach.
  • Biosafety and Biosecurity Month Achievement Award – This award recognizes distinction in an institution’s efforts to promote Biosafety and Biosecurity Month.

The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2026. The Biosecurity Engagement and Promotion Committee looks forward to reviewing all of the wonderful submissions.

Technology alone isn’t a silver bullet. The best defense relies on combining cutting-edge technology with strong policy frameworks, continuous training, and international collaboration. All of the hardworking biosafety and biosecurity professionals lead the way in this new era, ensuring that the rapid growth of biotechnology brings forth its continued benefits to humans, animals, and the environment, without compromising safety and ethics. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating the work that you do at the 69th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference in Mobile, Alabama.