Detection overview

Detection deep-dive

Option 1: Country-specific biosurveillance

Option 2: Metagenomic sequencing technology roadmap

Option 3: Rapid individual testing

AI x Biosecurity

Prevention overview

Prevention deep-dive

Option 1: AI safeguards

Option 2: DNA synthesis screening

Option 3: The Biological Weapons Convention

Option 4: Governance of risky biological research


Intro

The history of pandemics and bioweapons

The future of pandemics and bioweapons?

Towards a pandemic-proof world

[Optional] Biology 101 for biosecurity

[Optional] Biosecurity overviews

Rapid MCM overview

Rapid MCM development deep-dive

Option 1: Faster R&D

Option 2: Clinical trials innovation

Option 3: Better financing and procurement

Option 4: Faster manufacturing and delivery

Your next steps

Choose your focus

Biosecurity project ideas

Make a plan

Next steps: Technical fellowships

Next steps: Policy fellowships

Next steps: Career resources

Thank you!

NPI overview

NPI deep-dive

Option 1: Pandemic-proof PPE

Option 2: Biohardening indoor spaces

Congrats on making it to the final unit!

Hopefully you now have a sense of just how big a deal pandemics have been throughout history, how vulnerable we still are today, and how emerging technologies could make these vulnerabilities frighteningly easy to exploit.

But this doesn’t have to be the case. There are concrete areas you can work on right now to make the world significantly more pandemic-proof. We have explored interventions from DNA synthesis screening to pandemic early warning systems, PPE stockpiles to air sanitation.

**If there is one thing that you take from this course, let it be that you have a real opportunity to build a pandemic-proof world, if you want to step up and take it.** 

It won’t be a ‘normal job’, there are few instructions to follow and possibly no boss telling you what to do. You will need to be entrepreneurial, creative and resilient. If the role you want doesn’t exist, how can you build it?

In this unit, you'll create an action plan for how you could start contributing. This is only the beginning – these are big topics and the 30 hours you've spent studying them is not a lot of time. You're not expected to have a perfect answer right now. We’re excited for you to sculpt it with the help of your cohort and facilitator in your next session and over the coming months.

But first, a bit of motivation…


Based on everything you've learnt about so far during this course, pick a single biosecurity intervention.

To help you prioritise, consider which interventions you think would be most effective and where your existing skillset gives you an edge to contribute.


Prioritise a single intervention

- What does success look like with this intervention? How does it _actually_ help make the world more pandemic-proof?
- What's the current status of this intervention? Are governments, companies or other actors already working on it? If not, why not?
- Which organisations are working on this which you can contribute to or join?
- Are there any concrete project ideas that you could pick up?

We've included a few resources with projects, orgs and jobs on the following pages.


Do your own research

A small portfolio of high-quality projects is the best way to kick-start your career in biosecurity. This could be a blog with your reflections on biosecurity interventions, mini research projects, or tools that you've built.

This is the strongest way to publicly demonstrate clear thinking, curiosity and the ability to build things from scratch. Helpful whether you're trying to impress a hiring manager or a potential co-founder.


We don't expect this to be super detailed or a perfect plan - treat this as a first draft, and something that's good enough to help you get started.


Once you're finished, 1) make the Google Doc shareable, 2) paste it below, and 3) share it with your group in Slack!


Write your personal action plan

These fellowships focus on the intersection of AI and biosecurity: evaluating dual-use capabilities, building defences against AI-enabled biological threats, and developing governance frameworks. They're a good fit if you want to work on the technical side of AI-bio risks.


Biosecurity policy is shaped by people who understand both the science and the policy landscape. These fellowships can place you in government agencies, think tanks, or advocacy organisations working on biological threats, including those amplified by AI.


We hope you've had a great time on the course, and we're excited to see how you contribute to making the world more pandemic-proof :)


Biosecurity

Map the biosecurity landscape and identify where your specific skills can contribute: organisations hiring across policy and technology, concrete projects seeking talent, and pathways into the field.

Contributing to Biosecurity

Building biodefences is both urgent and achievable: pandemics have killed millions, AI and synthetic biology are creating new threats, but a radically more pandemic-proof world is possible.

Building a Pandemic-Proof World

Examine upstream interventions that stop threats before they emerge: AI safeguards, DNA synthesis screening, the Biological Weapons Convention, lab biosafety standards, and governance of risky research.

Preventing Engineered Pandemics

Learn how metagenomic sequencing can detect novel pathogens, how to rapidly characterise emerging threats, and how swift containment can stop transmission before widespread outbreaks.

Detecting Early Infections

Discover pathogen-agnostic defences deployable within hours: next-generation PPE, far-UVC air treatment, and biohardening strategies that protect people before we know what we're facing.

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Explore how to accelerate vaccine development, and how broad-spectrum antivirals can treat multiple threats before pathogen-specific treatments exist.

Biosecurity

Choose your focus

Exercises