World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology: Dr. Jennifer Holmgren Wins Rosalind Franklin Award; Lynn
The 12th Annual World Congress On Industrial Biotechnology was held by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) on July 19-22, 2015, in Montréal. Lynn L. Bergeson offered opening remarks at the Women in Industrial Biotechnology Reception, sponsored by BRAG, and spoke on the importance of continuing to fight for gender equality for women working in science and other fields. Ms. Bergeson also opened the Renewable Chemicals and Biobased Materials track, in which Richard E. Engler, Ph.D. presented "TSCA and the Regulation of Biofuels" and "Leveraging 'Green' for Visibility."
Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, was presented the Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology at the BIO World Congress. The award celebrates a pioneering woman in the industrial biotechnology sector who has made significant contributions to the advancement of the biobased economy and biotech innovation in honor of Rosalind Franklin. Over 15 female leaders were nominated for the award, and Dr. Holmgren was selected as a result of her work as CEO of LanzaTech, a company that is developing the world's first alternative jet fuel from industrial waste gases using intermediates derived through industrial biotechnology. LanzaTech also won the 2015 Greener Synthetic Pathways Award as part of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge for the novel use of waste gas to produce fuel. Dr. Holmgren's work in the advancement of industrial biotechnology was determined to embody the spirit of Rosalind Franklin and her pioneering role in the biotechnology field.