Welcome
Nowadays, disciplines seek to combine innovative solutions to face environmental challenges to life on Earth. Everyday, profound scientific initiatives disclose microbial properties that are valuable to understand and to deal with environmental constraints that mankind has made. Therefore, we are convening international and local researchers, within an interdisciplinary scenario, to discuss microbial capabilities and diversity with potential for novel products. We take this opportunity to examine scientific advances towards environmental balances, sustainable development, and societal progress with lessons for innovation. New discoveries are achieved by searching for frontiers in environmental microbiology.
The PRIMER pursues a better understanding of microbial roles within the Neotropical environment with global impact. We invite you to be part of this journey:
Third Symposium
Frontiers in Environmental Microbiology
Lessons for Innovation
Friday, March 19, 2010 • Amphitheater Ignacio Morales Nieva
Universidad del Turabo • Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Scientific program will start at 9:00 a.m.
Scientific Program
Convener: Dr. Sharon A. Cantrell. Universidad del Turabo, PR
8:00 am Registration
8:45 am Welcome
Dr. María del Carmen Santos, Associate Vice Chancellor, Universidad del Turabo, PR
9:00 am Introduction to the Symposium
Dr. José Pérez-Jiménez, Director I3 & PRIMER, Universidad del Turabo, PR
An initial reflection
9:15 pm Tropical Dry forests in the karst region of Puerto Rico: A nature wonder where microbes are: I wonder?
Dr. Elvira Cuevas; Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, PR
-- Emerging microbial roles --
9:45 am Bioenergía y Biorefinerías: Integrando Innovación y Sustentabilidad
Dr. Marco A. Baez-Vasquez; Biotechnology Center of Excellence Corporation, Massachusetts, USA
10:30 am Mortandad masiva de los abanicos de mar en Puerto Rico: ¿aspergilosis sin Aspergillus?
Dr. Paul Bayman; Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, PR
11:00 am Break
-- Modern Perspectives --
11:15 am Molecular Applications to Pharmaceutical Processes
Dr. Luis E. Jiménez; Immunomedics Inc., New Jersey, USA
12:00 pm Richness and endemicity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the Neotropics
Dr. José Pérez-Jiménez; Department of Biology, Universidad del Turabo, PR
12:30 pm Closing Remarks: Lessons for Innovation
Dr. José R. Pérez-Jiménez, Director I3 and PRIMER, Universidad del Turabo, PR
12:45 pm Lunch and Poster Session. Salón de Actos
PRESENTED BY
• Puerto Rico Institute for Microbial Ecology Research
• Interdisciplinary Research Institute • Office of the Vice Chancellor
• NSF-RIG-Richness and endemicity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in Neotropical environments (MCB-0615671) to Dr. Pérez-Jiménez
• NSF-CAA-Molecular and Functional Signatures of Fungi from Temperate and Tropical Hypersaline Microbial Mats (MCB-718500) to Dr. Sharon A. Cantrell
• FIPSE-Pathway for Advanced Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing (P116V090048)
• FIPSE-PRIMER Alliance for Environmental Biotechnology and Sustainable Development (P116M090022)
• NSF-ATE PRIMER-Tropical Bioprospecting Venture at CETA (DUE-0903274)
• AMGEN’s PRIMER-Tropical Bioprospecting Venture at Juncos (press note)
