Author: Carrie Cox

ACORE’s Renewable Policy Forum: March 16-17, 2016

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is hosting their annual Policy Forum March 16th-17th. The Forum will be held at The W, in Washington D.C.

ABO members can use the discount code SPT20ABO to register for a reduced rate!
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In addition to networking time and complimentary coffee, speakers will cover the rapid changes in electricity markets, expanding capital for renewables, renewable taxes, growing demand through the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and the repercussions of the Paris accords.

ABO would like to invite all of its members to consider attending not only to learn but to be sure that the rising star of algae is well-represented.

See inspiring pictures and read more about the forum here, and if you’re already convinced, register here.

Algae Key Component in Technology to Restore Sight

RetroSense Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, is developing a gene therapy using algae that is intended to restore vision to those suffering from blindness as a result of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The technology, which uses a component of green algae, was developed by Zhuo-Hua Pan from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine.

To overcome the loss of photoreceptors as a result of RP, RetroSense will inject algae DNA into the retina, conferring new light sensitivity. The expectation is to improve or even restore vision, albeit likely in monochrome or black and white, since green algae cells are only sensitive to the color blue. Trials with mice have shown an increased sensitivity to light.

The technology has been granted Orphan Drug status by the FDA, which includes a seven-year period of market exclusivity, tax credits and reduced regulatory fees.

For more information visit RetroSense or Wayne State University.

Algae Foundation Announces Mary Rosenthal Memorial Student Travel Grant Opportunities

Application deadline is April 20, 2016.

The Algae Foundation, ABO’s sister organization, is pleased to announce that it is offering $500 travel grants to attend the 10th Annual Algae Biomass Summit in Phoenix, AZ, from October 23 through October 26, 2016. The grants, for use only in attending ABS 2016, are intended to provide support for students attending the Algae Biomass Summit.

To qualify for consideration, the student must:

  • Be an ABO Member
  • Be an undergraduate, graduate student or pre-doctoral student or
  • Be a PhD with a post-doctoral appointment and is currently involved in a full time academic research program for no longer than 2 years
  • Submit an abstract to present a poster or oral presentation at ABS 2016 and be the presenting author of the abstract
  • Provide a suggested budget to attend the Summit
  • Provide a current letter of recommendation for ABS 2016 (See below)

The selection criteria is as follows:

  • The relevance and scientific quality of the submitted abstract
  • The student has not received a similar travel grant award in the last two years
  • Only one travel grant per laboratory

The applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member or department head on official letterhead including the following information:

  • The letter must state that the student is expected to be active in the training or degree program at the time of the meeting, or, if the student has completed their terminal degree, the actual date of completion.

All applications and materials should be sent to:

  • Barb Scheevel, Algae Foundation Administrative Coordinator
  • Email: bscheevel@algaebiomass.org
  • Address:
    • 125 St. Paul Street, P.O. Box 369
    • Preston, MN 55965

Student Travel Grant Application deadline is April 20, 2016.

Selection Process – Selection is made by the Algae Foundation Travel Grant Selection Committee. The awards are highly competitive. If a grant recipient cannot present the accepted abstract, the recipient MUST notify the Algae Foundation as soon as possible. The grant will be rescinded and awarded to an alternate.

Award Notification: Awardees will be notified by May 20, 2016.

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology Heads to San Diego

This year BIO’s World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology will be in sunny San Diego, April 17-20, 2016.

This is the world’s largest industrial biotechnology event for business leaders, investors, and policy makers in biofuels, biobased products, and renewable chemicals.

ABO’s executive director and several member companies will be presenting a session titled “Charting the New Algae Industry Roadmap.”

ABO members will also appear in sessions such as:

  • Current State of Technology in Algae Cultivation;
  • Algae Technology Development Progress: Algae Testbed Public Private Partnership Progress and Research Results; and
  •  Strategies for Sustainable Algal Biofuels Production.

Check out the full list of breakout sessions here.

Early bird rates expire March 17 so register soon!

 

 

Algae Biomass Organization Gears Up for 2016 Algae Biomass Summit

Largest algae conference in the world now accepting speaking abstracts and proposals for event taking place in Phoenix, AZ October 23 – October 26, 2016

PHOENIX, AZ (February 22, 2016) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, announced that the tenth annual Algae Biomass Summit will take place October 23 – October 26 in Phoenix, AZ at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa. The ABO is now accepting abstracts and proposals for keynote speakers, panel presentations and poster sessions at the event, the world’s largest algae industry conference. Speaking opportunities for the Summit are highly competitive, making the submission of high-quality abstracts before the March 16, 2016, priority deadline essential. Information about the event and call for abstracts can be found at http://www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

“The 2016 Algae Biomass Summit marks a decade of the algae industry coming together to network, collaborate, push new ideas, and discuss the most important advancements made by businesses, academics, policymakers and students alike.  Algae technologies continue to impact new markets — food, health, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, animal feed — while making tremendous gains in carbon capture utilization and energy,” said Dr. Anthony Marchese, the 2016 Summit Program Chair and Director of the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University. “With climate change as well as food and water security coming to the forefront of international policy, algae are now seen as a key component in meeting these challenges.”

Speakers and attendees at the Algae Biomass Summit will include national and international technologists, producers, scientists, investors, end-user companies, students and policy makers. Over the last decade participants have expounded on algae’s ability to make fuel, utilize CO2 to make valuable products, provide nutrition to humans and animals, create chemical products, synthesize pharmaceuticals, and provide jobs for millions of Americans, with little to no impact on freshwater supplies or agricultural land (read more at www.allaboutalgae.com).

This year participants will continue to push those and other integral topics such as commercialization of algal production, government and private policies, lifecycle analysis, project funding and the emerging ways that algae can address global challenges.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at allaboutalgae.com.

About the Algae Biomass Organization

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.

Contacts: Nate Kommers, Scoville Public Relations for ABO 206-625-0075 x2, nate.kommers@scovillepr.com