We have the first two entries in our contest where we are looking for digital art that explores how society is handling the new world of biotech sciences. Genetics, metabolomics, synthetic biology, and many, many other areas of biotechnology have the potential to challenge our societal, ethical, and legal sensibilites.  After all, many of our laws around patents were created long before anyone dreamed of maunipulating genes and even the manner in which different segments of society and cultures define life is being challenged by the technology.

It isn't always easy to articulate where we are pushing the envelope nor is it easy to see into the future and predict where the science is taking us. That's why we decided to turn to art as a way to let people express their thoughts on the world where biotechnology meet or perhaps even bump into each other. There won't be a right or wrong entry so let your imagination be your guide.
We kicked off the contest at the beginning of August and the first 2 entries were posted today and are online at our Picasa photo sharing site.  Voting will be live this weekend so be sure to go to our home page on Monday for details.
If you want to enter the contest here are a few links you should check:

• Contest rules
• Launch day
• Neat video on making digital art

We're running this contest leading up to National Biotechnology Week in Canada. Entries will be accepted until September 16^th and voting will close on September 24^th at the end of National Biotechnology Week. There are modest cash prizes for the top 3 entries and all submissions will be considered for us in our print publications and on our various online sites.