Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego will be featured prominently at the upcoming Algae Biomass Summit in San Diego. The eighth annual event, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2014, at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina, will present the latest breakthroughs in algal biology research from around the world, including new advancements at Scripps, UC San Diego, and across the San Diego region.
“The ability of algae to provide us with sustainable fuels, feeds, and other products without depleting our freshwater supplies or our farmland has sparked more interest in this industry than ever before,” said Greg Mitchell, a research biologist at Scripps and chair of the conference’s program, in announcing the summit. “San Diego has more algae industry activity than any other city in the world, and we expect the 2014 summit to draw on that community as well as a broader international group of scientists, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 100 companies.”
On Sept. 29, summit participants will have the opportunity to spend the day at Scripps Institution of Oceanography with tours and lectures focusing on the “Diversity and Commercial Potential of Algae.” More information and registration details are available here.
During the conference, a full array of new research findings will be featured, including advances in the science of algal biofuel, which is widely considered an emerging sustainable alternative to fossil fuel consumption.
“The importance of the increasing number of advances in biology research on display at this year’s summit cannot be understated,” said Mark Hildebrand, director of the Marine Biology Research Division at Scripps Oceanography and chair of the summit’s Progress in Algal Biology track, in an announcement on the summit’s research offerings. “Summit attendees will be engaged in discussions regarding the latest algae-related research and its broad implications for commercial production of algae-derived products in the food, feed, fuel, and other commodity markets.”
Scripps scientists presenting at the summit include:
Tuesday, Sept. 30:
• 8:15 a.m.: Greg Mitchell, Algae Biomass Summit plenary session, opening remarks
• 3 p.m.: Andrew Allen (a researcher at Scripps and the J. Craig Venter Institute), “Regulation of Cellular Nitrogen Metabolism in the Model Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum”
• 3 p.m.: Dominick Mendola, “Conceptual Design and Preliminary Engineering for Capture and Reuse of CO2 and NOx for Algae Production from Stationary Engine Flue-gas”
• 5 p.m.: Mark Hildebrand, panel chair, “Progress in Algal Biology Research in San Diego: The Omics of Algal Biofuels”
• 5 p.m.: Brian Palenik, “Characterization of the Use of Wastewater from Hydrothermal Liquefaction as a Nitrogen Source by the Potential Algal Biofuel Strain Picochlorum sp”
• 5 p.m.: Jesse Traller, “Genome and Methylome of a Candidate Biofuel Organism Provides Insights into Carbon Flux and Regulation”
Wednesday, Oct. 1:
• 8:30 a.m.: Andrew Allen, panel chair, “Progress in Algal Biology Research in San Diego: Genetically Based Strain Improvements”
• 8:30 a.m.: Mark Hildebrand, “Improvement of Microalgal Productivity by Selection and Genetic Manipulation”
In addition to the oral presentations outlined above, several research posters will be presented by Scripps scientists, students, and postdoctoral researchers. Also, on Thursday, Oct. 2, Stephen Mayfield, UC San Diego professor and director of the California Center for Algae Biotechnology, which includes Scripps and UC San Diego researchers, will participate in a plenary session on “Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (DOE BETO): Report from Project Performers.”
Earlier this year Hildebrand’s laboratory was ranked by the DOE BETO as the top biofuel research program in the country. UC San Diego’s Consortium for Algal Biofuels Commercialization, led by Mayfield and including Scripps scientists, was ranked as the country’s second best program.
Related Image Gallery: Scripps at Algae Biomass Summit