BIO to address diversity at 2009 BIO International Convention.

Press Release Summary:



BIO will hold Fulfilling the Promise: Diversity in Biotechnology Summit on May 18, 2009, in Atlanta as part of 2009 BIO International Convention. Summit will address science education, health disparities, and community outreach in biotechnology industry. Plenary breakfast; economic/workforce development panel; legislative roundtable; town hall meeting on education, access, and awareness of future of technology; and keynote address from Luis G. Fortuno/Honorable Louis Sullivan are planned.



Original Press Release:



BIO Holds Diversity Summit at 2009 BIO International Convention in Atlanta



WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, March 25, 2009) - The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) invites leaders in workforce development, science education, health disparities and community outreach to attend Fulfilling the Promise: Diversity in Biotechnology Summit on Monday, May 18, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta. Part of the 2009 BIO International Convention, the inaugural event will include discussions with industry representatives, policymakers and community leaders.

"Diversity is important to our industry and this summit will focus on how to encourage more diversity within the workforce," said Robbi Lycett, vice president of Conventions & Conferences at BIO. "We are pleased to bring together individuals from industry, academia, government and the non-profit sector to discuss important topics related to diversity within biotechnology, such as economic and workforce development, health disparities and community outreach, education and access."

Highlights include:

Plenary breakfast featuring Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Georgia Representative John Lewis;

Economic/workforce development panel featuring Dr. Michael L. Penn, Jr., Genentech;

Legislative roundtable discussing federal and state legislative initiatives moderated by US Delegate Donna Christensen;

Health disparities and community outreach panel featuring Dr. Carolyn Britton of the National Medical Association;

A town hall meeting on education, access and awareness of the future of technology with Dr. Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society and Dr. Eve Higginbotham from the Morehouse School of Medicine;

As well as keynote addresses from Governor Luis G. Fortuno of Puerto Rico and the Honorable Louis Sullivan.

For additional information or to register for the Diversity in Biotechnology Summit, please contact Julia Moorhead at jmoorhead@bio.org or at 202.962.9509 by Friday, April 17, 2009.

To register for the 2009 BIO International Convention, please visit convention.bio.org/

The BIO International Convention helps to support BIO programs and initiatives. BIO works throughout the year to create a policy environment that enables the industry to continue to fulfill its vision of bettering the world through biotechnology innovation. For more information on the global event for biotechnology, including program and housing information, please visit convention.bio.org/.

Upcoming BIO Events

BIO IP Counsels' Committee Conference

March 25-27, 2009

Phoenix, AZ

BIO National Venture Conference

March 31-April 1,2009

Boston, MA

BIO Windhover 2009

April 13-15, 2009

New York, NY

BIO-LES Business Development Basics Course

May 15-17, 2009

Atlanta, GA

BIO-LES Advanced Business Development Course

May 15-17, 2009

Atlanta, GA

BIO Executive Presentation Workshop

May 17, 2009

Atlanta, GA

BIO Human Resources Conference

May 17-19, 2009

Atlanta, GA

2009 BIO International Convention

May 18-21, 2009

Atlanta, Ga.

BioEquity Europe

June 9-10, 2009

Munich, Germany

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioprocessing

July 19-22, 2009

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

About BIO

BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

All Topics