David Julius
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021 | Pioneer of Pain & Sensory Science | Chair of Physiology at UCSF | Global Science Keynote Speaker
George Church
Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School & MIT | Father of Synthetic Biology | Co-Founder, Colossal Biosciences | Chief Scientist, Lila Sciences | Time 100
Speaker George Church is the Harvard geneticist who pioneered direct genome sequencing, founded the Personal Genome Project, and co-founded Colossal Biosciences. Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, he now leads scientific strategy at Lila Sciences, where AI-driven labs accelerate discovery. Organizations book Church to understand the future of synthetic biology, longevity, and life sciences.
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George Church biography
Science speaker George Church is one of the most influential geneticists of his generation. He is Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Core Faculty at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, and a co-founder of more than fifty biotechnology companies. Time named him one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People for his pioneering contributions to genome sequencing, synthetic biology, and de-extinction.
Church’s 1984 Harvard PhD established the first methods for direct genome sequencing, molecular multiplexing, and barcoding — innovations that underpin nearly every “next-generation” sequencing platform in use today. He launched the Personal Genome Project in 2005, the first effort to publicly sequence and share complete genomes and medical records to accelerate research and personalized medicine, and he was its first volunteer. He directs the U.S. National Institutes of Health Center for Excellence in Genomic Science and has published more than 370 peer-reviewed papers and authored Regenesis, a foundational book on synthetic biology.
Reviving Lost Species and Engineering the Future of Life
In 2021, Church co-founded Colossal Biosciences with entrepreneur Ben Lamm to use genetic engineering to restore lost ecosystems. Now valued at more than ten billion dollars, the company produced a cohort of gene-edited wolves modeled on the extinct dire wolf, named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, as its first living proof of concept, and is pursuing the woolly mammoth, thylacine, dodo, moa, and bluebuck. He also serves as Chief Scientist at Lila Sciences, an AI-driven platform building autonomous laboratories that compress decades of research into months. His ongoing work bridges genomics, synthetic biology, neuroscience, and longevity, and has been profiled by outlets from CBS’s 60 Minutes to The Guardian and NOVA.
His work has been profiled by CBS 60 Minutes, The Guardian, NOVA, Charlie Rose, and The Colbert Report, and he holds more than sixty patents and advisory roles at twenty-two biotechnology companies, twelve scientific journals, and five granting agencies.
As a speaker, George Church gives executive audiences and scientific leaders a forward-looking framework for the most consequential biotechnology questions of our time — from reversing biological aging to ethical de-extinction, AI-accelerated discovery, and the responsible governance of synthetic biology. His keynotes are rigorous, surprising, and equally accessible to specialists and curious leaders ready to plan for what genomics will make possible.
George Church Speaking Videos
George Church – Age Reversal
George Church – DNA
George Church Keynote Topics
Church explores how genome sequencing, gene editing, and synthetic biology are reshaping medicine, agriculture, energy, and computing. Drawing on his own pioneering contributions, he describes the trajectory from reading genomes to writing them, and the practical implications for healthcare, drug development, and population-scale prevention. The talk equips senior leaders with a clear-eyed view of where the bioeconomy is heading and how organizations should prepare for it.
Church examines the most promising scientific approaches to extending healthy human lifespan, including gene therapies, cellular reprogramming, and AI-discovered interventions. He addresses the technical, economic, and ethical questions executives must consider as longevity science moves from research labs into commercial products. Audiences leave with a calibrated understanding of what is plausible, what is hype, and what the next decade may make possible.
As co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, Church discusses the science behind reviving extinct and endangered species — from the woolly mammoth to the thylacine and bluebuck — and the ecological case for de-extinction. He addresses the ethical, regulatory, and ecological questions involved, and shows how the same tools used to bring species back are advancing conservation, agriculture, and human medicine.
Drawing on his role as Chief Scientist at Lila Sciences, Church looks at how AI agents and autonomous laboratories are compressing decades of biological and materials research into months. He explains how scientific superintelligence is being built, where it will deliver the earliest commercial breakthroughs, and what it means for organizations that depend on R&D to compete.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking George Church
Why George Church?
George Church is one of the most consequential scientists of the past forty years and a uniquely effective communicator of complex biology. He invented foundational genome-sequencing methods now used in nearly every diagnostic and research lab, founded the Personal Genome Project, and co-founded Colossal Biosciences, the most-discussed de-extinction company in the world. His ongoing role as Chief Scientist at Lila Sciences puts him at the frontier of AI-accelerated science. On stage he is generous, surprising, and able to make synthetic biology, longevity, and AI-driven discovery genuinely understandable to executives. Book George Church through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring rare scientific authority and a long-horizon view of the bioeconomy to your next event.
What is George Church known for?
Church is best known for pioneering direct genome sequencing, molecular multiplexing, and DNA barcoding during his 1984 Harvard PhD — methods that underpin most modern next-generation sequencing platforms. He founded the Personal Genome Project, co-founded Colossal Biosciences, has co-founded more than fifty biotechnology companies, and has been named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People.
What is Colossal Biosciences and what is its mission?
Colossal Biosciences is the de-extinction and species-preservation company George Church co-founded with entrepreneur Ben Lamm in 2021. Its mission is to apply advanced genetic engineering and computational biology to revive extinct species, including the dire wolf, woolly mammoth, thylacine, dodo, moa, and bluebuck, and to develop conservation tools that protect endangered animals. Now valued at more than ten billion dollars, it is among the most highly valued biotechnology startups in the world.
What does George Church speak about at events?
His most-requested keynotes cover the future of genomics and synthetic biology, the engineering of longevity, de-extinction and conservation, and AI-accelerated science. He tailors talks for boards, healthcare and pharma audiences, technology executives, and investors. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring George Church to your stage.
How to book George Church as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book George Church as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about George Church's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for George Church or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is George Church speaking fee?
George Church speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire George Church to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book George Church.
How can I contact George Church?
We only work with George Church on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking George Church and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having George Church speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact George Church for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book George Church for a virtual keynote?
Yes, George Church is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book George Church for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
