On Feb. 28, Michael Imperiale (University of Michigan) shared the work of a committee he led that was tasked with outlining potential responses to new bioweapons. The lecture, which was part of the Consortium's series on Consumer-Driven and DIY Science, reviewed the recent history of US bioterrorism preparations, and described the opportunities and challenges presented by the emerging field of synthetic biology. Prof. Imperiale was joined by Michael Osterholm of CIDRAP, a Consortium member center, who added a policy perspective based on his expertise in infectious disease and public health. The moderator of the event, Amy Kircher of the Food Protection and Defense Institute (also a Consortium member), added insights from her experience as part of the national security apparatus. Video of the event is available here.