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International experts converge in Singapore for 2nd Keystone Symposia on biofuels

December 29th, 2010

Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology and Singapore's Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) announce the second Keystone Symposia conference on "Biofuels" in Singapore from 1-6 March 2011. The conference titled "Biofuels" will discuss: Bioenergy: The Options for an Economic and Sustainable Future, Sustainability of cellulosic ethanol (Biofuel produced from non-food biomass), Algae Biofuels (Deriving fuel from algae), Development of new biomass feedstocks and Potential of Biomass Production in Southeast Asia.

The meeting will bring together academia, international scientists and policy makers, to identify promising avenues to a viable biofuels future. Experts will discuss economic and environmental considerations of biofuel technologies, and the integration of biofuels into the existing energy infrastructure. International speakers from academia, government and the private sector will discuss and comment on research and policy. The lineup of internationally renowned speakers includes: Dr. Adam Brown of the International Energy Agency, Professor Timothy Donohue of the University of Wisconsin-Madison/ Great Lakes Bioenergy, Dr. Arthur Grossman of Solazyme, Inc., Professor Lonnie Ingram of the University of Florida, Professor Jay D. Keasling of the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Lee Rybeck Lynd of Dartmouth College, and Professor Amaral Weber of Universidade de São Paulo.

The scientific organisers of the conference are Professor Stephen P. Mayfield of the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Martin Keller of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (a US Department of Energy-funded biofuels research center) and Dr. Wong Pui Kwan of A*STAR's Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences. According to Professor Mayfield, "One of the greatest challenges we face today is to develop efficient, sustainable and scalable processes for converting sunlight energy into the food and fuel the world needs. No single renewable-energy strategy will be able to provide a total solution, but a combination of strategies that can be coordinated and integrated effectively has the potential to significantly decrease our dependence on fossil fuel. At this critical time in mapping a new global energy strategy, this symposium will address the potential of cellulosic and algal produced bioenergy as part of a sustainable future for our planet."

Commenting on the upcoming conference, Dr Keith Carpenter, Executive Director, the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences said, "Diversifying our resources away from total dependence on crude oil towards more sustainable sources of fuels and chemicals is a major issue globally for industry and for the economies of many countries. As a society, we face the problem of ensuring reasonable standard of living for all, reducing poverty and maintaining economic growth, whilst minimising the impact we have on our environment. This symposium will bring together leading experts and policy makers from academia, from industry and the public sector to suggest novel ways to address the challenge of providing the energy, fuels and chemicals we need without destroying the planet we live on."

Keystone Symposia conferences are well known for sparking collaborations as a result of their fairly small, intimate size as well as free time and poster sessions that encourage lively interaction. This meeting will additionally feature a special networking dinner at the Asian Civilisations Museum which will allow visiting attendees to meet with Singapore's energy sector. A tour of Jurong Island, where A*STAR maintains research facilities within its Institute for Chemical and Engineering Sciences, will give participants a first-hand look at the biofuels research work.

More information on the conference programme can be found at www.keystonesymposia.org/biofuels. Keystone Symposia held its first meeting on Biofuels in 2009 in US. The conference is also supported by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Provided by Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

Citation: International experts converge in Singapore for 2nd Keystone Symposia on biofuels (2010, December 29) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://sciencex.com/wire-news/55074254/international-experts-converge-in-singapore-for-2nd-keystone-sym.html
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