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. Fortuño 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 http://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 http://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.

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