Biotechnology

BIO 2009 · Background and Panel Description

The European Union Center of Excellence (EUCE) at GA Tech coordinated with BIO, the world's largest biotechnology organization, to host the following panel discussion: “Technological Development in Biofuels: Implications for Policy”, at its biannual Conference and trade show held in Atlanta 18-21 May 2009. BIO is a particularly appropriate entity with which the EUCE will build public-private partnerships around biofuel issues since the group is heavily involved in the field especially through its Advanced Biofuels and Climate Change Information Center and its cadre of specialists. The EUCE supported the participation of 4 presenters, including 2 U.S. and 2 European researchers and practitioners in this area. Dr. Valerie Thomas is the Anderson Interface Associate Professor of Natural Systems in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy. Dr. Thomas was the U.S. group leader for this project.

Examination of biofuels is a timely topic and is of interest to policy-makers, academics, NGOs and the private sector especially considering its broad environmental, food security and alternative energy impacts. The panel discussions have developed into a Learning Network that include not only the key presenters, but also other appropriate attendees. The session kicks off the biofuels discussion which has continued through the formation of a network of scholars, public policy specialists and private sector firms. The group has identified areas of research and policy implications for the EU and U.S., and is producing publishable papers and working papers on-line via the group’s learning network portal on the EUCE website.

Speakers

United States

Dr. Valerie Thomas
Georgia Institute of Technology · Anderson Interface Associate Professor
of Natural Systems in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Dr. Susan Cozzens
Professor
Georgia Institute of Technology · School of Public Policy

Dr. Marilyn Brown
Georgia Institute of Technology · School of Public Policy

Europe

Dr. Richard Templer (TBC)
Chair, Imperial College London Department of Chemistry
Director of the Porter Institute

Dr. Richard Murphy (TBC)
Imperial College London Department of Chemistry

Corporate

Dr. Ian Dobbs
Director
Biofuels Program
British Petroleum