The 2017 Editing Nature Summit used a multi-disciplinary, diversity-driven approach to convene conversation about the responsible use of gene editing technologies and their implications for the environment. The mission of the summit was to develop a deliberative model that gives voice to all stakeholders and works to inform wise regulatory policies and technology development. A policy forum piece informed by summit discussions calling for the formations of an independent international body to guide all projects aiming to release gene edited organisms into the wild is forthcoming.

The summit program consisted of a keynote session and short talks that were open to the public, and extensive round table discussions consisting of 20 invited participants from both within and outside Yale University. The group consisted of visionaries from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines including ecologists, molecular biologists, policy makers, philosophers, engineers, ethicists, architects, theologists, journalists, and policy and governance experts.