Future-proofing sugar production - CambPlants leads discussions with global AB Sugar Management

As part of their annual global operations conference, AB Sugar invited members of the CambPlants Initiative to an afternoon of talks, posters and discussions surrounding how the company could respond to challenges and opportunities posed by global developments.

Dr Bhaskar Vira (Geography) gave an overview of the Strategic Initiative in Global Food Security and issues around political economy, such as land- and resource-grabbing; Prof Howard Griffiths (Plant Sciences) talked about water stress, carbon concentrating mechanisms and genetic innovation in crop plants, and Prof Paul Dupree (Biochemistry) highlighted opportunities for production of energy and chemicals from sugar and lignocellulosic by-products.

The talks were followed by a lively panel discussion and then a poster-pitch session. Dr Matthew Castle (Plant Sciences) introduced modelling of disease spread and mitigation options, Dr Matthew Davey (Plant Sciences) explained bioremediation and generation of value-from-waste using algae, Dr Paolo Bombelli (Biochemistry) and Ross Dennis (Plant Sciences) showcased the power of biophotovoltaics with the moss clock, and Dr Sue Barnard (Zoology and Tropical Biology Association) highlighted benefits of biodiversity conservation.

Throughout the afternoon, delegates captured ideas of how the new information could be incorporated into forward planning of the business, and follow-up conversations will take place with AB Sugar's innovation department.

Plant Sciences Exhibit at Royal Society Festival of Science and Arts: Meet the Algae: Diversity, Biology and Energy (25 June - 4 July)

The Department will be heavily involved with an exhibition located in the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre which takes place from Friday 25 June to Sunday 4 July 2010.

This is the official website.

This is the Plant Sciences Meet The Algae website.

The contact at Plant Sciences is Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley bgs21@cam.ac.uk.

Natural Fibres in Construction: Innovative Applications and Processes

Free Seminar: 17 November 2009, Hughes Hall, Cambridge, 2:00pm- 5.30pm

Natural fibres have been utilised in construction for millennia, they have particular advantages for a low carbon future. The event, with speakers from academia and industry will focus on the technical aspects of utilising natural fibres in a modern context and provide a forum for the latest research on new natural composites. The Renewable House at the Buildings Research Establishment, (delivered by the NNFCC and funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change DECC), and the Suffolk Housing Society development at Haverhill, are practical examples of the application of natural fibres. However these natural fibres have yet to enter mainstream application. Why is this? What are the opportunities and challenges facing natural fibres in construction?

Download the details.

Development of Algal Products and Processes

Opportunities and challenges in high value applications, bioremediation and bioenergy

Thursday 15th Oct 2009
Zicer Conference and Exhibition Room, University of East Anglia, Norwich

This meeting is jointly organised by Renewables East, the renewable energy agency for the East of England, and the InCrops Enterprise Hub, a new initiative to promote low carbon solutions based on plant materials from non-food crops.

This event will highlight opportunities and challenges for the use of algae in high value applications, bioremediation and bioenergy, with a special emphasis on current and upcoming funding opportunities. It will bring together industry and academia from renewables sectors to accelerate innovation and technology transfer.

Speakers include:

• Dr Gill Malin, University of East Anglia
  Algal processes and products: advantages and challenges


• Prof Richard Geider, University of Essex
  Biological constraints on algal production

Prof Alison Smith, University of Cambridge
Vitamins, pigments and energy from algae

• Dr Thomas Mock, University of East Anglia
  Genomic screening and genetic engineering of diatoms for different biotechnological applications


• Prof Graham Hillier, Centre for Process Innovation
  The role of algae in planning sustainable cities


• Dr Vitor Vieira, Necton / Algafuel
  Production of algae for high value purposes - lessons for bioenergy production

Registration opens at 09.30 am; presentations start at 10.30 am. A Guided Tour of Algal Labs will be available during the lunch break for delegates who register in advance. The presentations finish at 4.00 pm, followed by networking, and the event closes at 5.00 pm.

A registration fee applies to this event: £50. A discounted fee is available for academic and not-for-profit organisations (£30). Please email alysonbooth@renewableseast.org.uk to access the discount.

To register please visit http://renewableseast.eventhq.co.uk/algae.

If you have any questions, please contact either Bianca Forte (biancaforte@renewableseast.org.uk; 07939 053 025) or Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley (b.schlarb-ridley@uea.ac.uk; 07778 983 612).

Download the flier.

First International Lavender Conference 6-11 September 2009

6th - 11th September 2009

We are delighted to announce the First International Lavender Conference to be hosted by Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Lavender%202009.html

Fibre Crops open day: 4 September 2009

This Open Day with talks will focus on the growing and processing of fibre crops in the East of England. Delegates will also visit the experimental trials being conducted by InCrops at Easton College, Norwich.

Businesses interested in developing further products and technologies from these crops will have a unique chance to network and explore future opportunities. The event will be of interest to delegates in a range of sectors from growing, production and manufacturing through to retail, distribution and marketing.

Speakers:

Michael Carus, European Industrial Hemp Association
Natural Fibres Reinforced Plastics for bio-based products: Markets and Trends

Dr Mike Lawrence, BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials
Developing hemp-lime low-carbon construction for mainstream uptake

Download more information as a pdf.

Bioplastics & Biopolymers Seminar: 16 July

Thursday 16th July 2009
3.00pm - 6.30pm
Hughes Hall College, Pavilion Room, Cambridge CB1 2EW

THIS IS A FREE EVENT & PLACES ARE LIMITED
To register, please contact Dr Beatrix Schlarb Ridley, InCrops Business Innovation Manager on b.schlarb-ridley@uea.ac.uk or telephone 01223 333 956 / 07778983612

FOR A FULL PROGRAMME AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS AND OTHER INCROPS EVENTS PLEASE VISIT www.incropsproject.co.uk.

Download the poster.

Monitoring Long-term Changes in British Woodlands

Forest Ecology Group of the British Ecological Society
Friday 2nd October 2009
Department of Plant Sciences, Cambridge University

Our aim is to discuss the following questions:

What scientific issues are being addressed by analysis of long-term datasets collected in British woodlands?

What scientific issues are being addressed by analysis of long-term datasets collected in British woodlands?
What other analyses could / should be conducted?
What long-term monitoring datasets are available, and in what form are these datasets?
What efforts are under way to remeasure permanently marked plots / lines?
Are there to plans to collect new datasets?
What's going on in the rest of the EU?
How might we secure funding for further monitoring and analyses?

If you would like to contribute a presentation that addresses any of these questions, please email us with a brief description of your interests or fill out the online form

All enquiries to Helen Scott -  hcs34@cam.ac.uk - please.