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For Immediate Release
Contact:
Yvonne Psaila
Keystone Symposia on Molecular &
Cellular Biology
Tel: +970 262 2676
Fax: +970 262 1546
or
Caroline Chia
Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR)
Tel: +65 6796
3884
Fax.: +65 6873 4805
chialic@scei.a-star.edu.sg
International Experts to Converge in Singapore for Second
Keystone Symposia Conference on Biofuels
SILVERTHORNE, February 16, 2011 – 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, March 1-6, 2011, at Swissôtel The Stamford.
The conference will cover cellulosic
ethanol, algal biofuels and the development of new biomass feedstocks. Talks will also encompass economic and
environmental considerations of biofuels technologies and integration of
biofuels into the existing energy infrastructure. The meeting will bring
together academic and industrial scientists, as well as planning and policy
makers, with the goal of identifying the most promising avenues to a viable
biofuels future.
Organizing the scientific content 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. Jeffrey P.
Obbard, formerly of A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences.
Citing
the timeliness of this conference, Professor Mayfield said, “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, pivotal 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.”
While total global
biofuels production today is presently about 1% of traded energy, or about 20
billion gallons a year and a $40 billion market, it is expected to reach 144
billion gallons per year by 2022 (a $600-700 billion market), based on
standards set by various governments for renewable energy use (source: US
Department of Energy).
According to
Professor Mayfield, the fact that the globe is expected to have completely
exhausted its entire supply of liquid petroleum by 2047 (leaving only tar sands
and oil shale) means that production of biofuels will need to be at least 50%
as great as petroleum production volume by 2050 to maintain existing energy
production rates. Since the world demand for energy is increasing at 2% per
year, it is projected that by 2050 we will need to be producing the equivalent
of 190 million barrels of oil per day or 2.9 trillion gallons per year, half of
which (1.45 trillion gallons per year or 1,450 billion gallons per year) will
need to come from biofuels.
The conference will
convene on the evening of Monday, March 1 with an introduction by Guest of
Honor Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, opening remarks by Professor Charles F. Zukoski of A*STAR’s Science
and Engineering Research Council (SERC) and a keynote address by Professor
Richard C.J. Somerville of the University of California, San Diego on “Speaking
Truth to Power: The Scientific Case for Urgent Action to Avoid Severe Climate
Disruption.” Speakers over the subsequent four days from academia, government and industry will include: Dr. Adam Brown of the International Energy Agency, 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, Dr. Jason Pyle of Sapphire Energy, Dr. Robert J. Schmidt of SG Biofuels and Professor Amaral Weber of Universidade de São Paulo.
Commenting on the upcoming conference,
Dr. Keith Carpenter, Executive Director of 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 standards of living for all, reducing
poverty and maintaining economic growth, whilst minimizing the impact we have
on our environment. This symposium will bring together leading experts and
policy makers from academia, from industry and from 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 individuals from 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.
The conference is also supported by
the Singapore Tourism Board. For the full program and more details, please
visit www.keystonesymposia.org/biofuels.
About Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology
Keystone Symposia on Molecular and
Cellular Biology, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has been conducting
internationally renowned, open scientific conferences since 1972 and has been
headquartered in Summit County, Colorado since 1990 when the organization left
the University of California at Los Angeles. Annually, Keystone Symposia holds
more than 50 meetings involving more than 13,000 scientists from around the
world. Registration fees are supplemented by generous monetary support from
corporate, foundation and individual donors as well as government grants.
More information on Keystone Symposia
can be found at www.keystonesymposia.org.
About the Institute of Chemical and
Engineering Sciences (ICES)
Institute of Chemical and Engineering
Sciences (ICES) is a member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR). Established in 2002, its mission is to carry out world-class
scientific research, to develop novel technology and to nurture creative
scientists and engineers to support economic growth in Singapore to make a
positive difference to society. The research area covers chemistry and chemical
engineering science, combined with advanced analytical characterization and
measurement to develop state-of-the-art technology for the petrochemical,
general chemical, fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
For more information, visit www.ices.a-star.edu.sg.
For collaboration enquiries, please
contact: collaboration@ices.a-star.edu.sg.
About the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and
Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific
research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven
Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and
engineering research institutes, and seven consortia and centers, which are
located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as well as their immediate vicinity.
A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual,
human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports
extramural research in the universities, hospitals and research centers, and
with other local and international partners.
For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
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