Keynote Speakers
Thierry Chopin |
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Dr. Thierry Chopin was born and educated in France. He obtained his Doctorate from the University of Western Brittany, Brest, France.He moved to Canada in 1989 and is presently Professor of Marine Biology at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John.
Dr. Chopin’s research focuses on the ecophysiology and biochemistry of seaweeds of commercial value and the development of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems for environmental sustainability (biomitigative services for improved ecosystem health), economic stability (product diversification, risk reduction and job creation in coastal communities) and societal acceptability (better management practices, improved regulatory governance and appreciation of differentiated and safe products). |
Dr. Chopin has published 87 refereed papers, 18 book chapters, 27 non-refereed publications, 284 abstracts (presented at 172 scientific meetings in 33 countries on 6 continents), 1 English/French DVD, and has frequent contacts with the media (magazine articles, newspapers/radio/TV interviews and documentaries).
Dr. Chopin is the Scientific Director of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network (CIMTAN).
He is Past President of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, the Phycological Society of America and the International Seaweed Association. He is an advisor to the International Foundation for Science, in Stockholm, and a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Aquaculture International.
Dr. Chopin is the recipient of the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation, the Aquaculture Association of Canada Research Award of Excellence, the New Brunswick BioSciences Achievement Award, the R3 (Research, Results, Recognition) Award of the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation and the Simply the Best Award of the UNB Associated Alumni.
Dr. Chopin is also Honorary Consul of France and Chevalier in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. |
Stephen Mayfield - Sponsored by BioInnovation SA |
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Stephen Mayfield is director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, and the John Doves Isaacs Chair of Natural Philosophy at UC San Diego. His research focuses on the molecular genetics of green algae, and on the recombinant production of therapeutic proteins and biofuel molecules using algae as a production platform. As an assistant professor at the Scripps Research Institute Steve was the first person to achieve transformation of the C. reinhardtii nuclear genome, work that allowed this algae to become the dominant genetic organisms for the study of photosynthesis and gene function. |
Over the last ten years work from the lab has identified mechanisms of chloroplast gene expression that has allowed for development of recombinant protein expression in algal chloroplast. Steve's lab was the first to show high levels of recombinant protein expression in algae, setting the stage for the use of algae as a platform for therapeutic protein production, including the expression of a human monoclonal antibody. These studies resulted in the founding of Rincon Pharmaceutical, a startup company based on the low cost production of human therapeutics using eukaryotic algae as an expression platform. Recent studies from the lab have shown the potential of engineering algae for the production of superior biofuel molecules as a source of renewal energy. Steve was also a scientific founder of Sapphire Energy, a company developing biofuel production by metabolic engineering of algae and photosynthetic bacteria. Steve is the head of the Scientific Advisory Boards of Sapphire Energy. |
John Raven |
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John Raven was born in 1941 in Wimbish (UK), gained a BA in Botany in 1963, and then a PhD in Plant Biophysics in 1967, from the University of Cambridge (UK).. After a three years as a University Demonstrator (temporary lecturer) overlapping with five years as Fellow of St John’s College he moved to the University of Dundee in 1971 as lecturer in Biological Sciences. He became a full Professor in 1980, from 1994 was Boyd Baxter Professor of Biology, and formally retired in 2008. He is currently Emeritus Professor of the University of Dundee where he is associate member of the Division of Plant Sciences based at the James Hutton Institute, and is an Honorary Research Fellow of the James Hutton Institute as well as an Honorary Professor at the University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland. |
John’s research has focussed on the biophysics, biochemistry, physiology and ecology of freshwater and marine cyanobacteria and micro- and macro-alga, algal evolution. the role of algae in global biogeochemistry, and prospects for algae in response to, and as possible mitigators of, global environmental change. His perception of the functioning of algae in their environment has been improved by his other research interests, including the colonization of the land by photosynthetic organisms, the ecophysiology of vascular land plants and bryophytes, and photosynthetic aspects of astrobiology. This research has resulted in about 350 peer-reviewed publications and two books, one of them (Aquatic Photosynthesis) co-authored by Paul Falkowski. John is a Fellow of the Royal Society of London (the National Academy of the UK, other British Commonwealth and the Republic of Ireland) and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, holds an Honorary PhD from the University of Umeå in Sweden, is a Corresponding Member of the Australian Society of Plant Scientists and of the Botanical Society of America, and has received an Award of Excellence from the Phycological Society of America and Honorary Life Membership of the British Phycological Society.
