Create your own conference schedule! Click here for full instructions

Abstract Detail



Lab Bench to Boardroom: Developing Plant Science Ideas

Gregoris, Amanda [1], Uhrig, R. Glen [2].

Lab Bench to Boardroom: Developing Plant Science Ideas.

Colloquium Goal: To connect students and post-doctoral fellows in the plant sciences with stakeholders of the business community to inspire entrepreneurship and an understanding of how plant science can be employed beyond academia. Background: This colloquium was previously coordinated at the CSPB Meeting in Quebec City (2013) by Dr. Michael Stokes and Dr. Guillaume Rancourt. It was well received and attended, but focused on developing ideas from molecular plant sciences. Given the diversity of plant scientists attending Botany 2015 in Edmonton, we have a proposal that will expand this colloquium to include panel members from environmental consulting, agricultural / horticulture, biofuels and bioremediation in addition to molecular plant sciences. General Outline: Direct applications submitted specifically for this colloquium or Botany 2015 abstracts will be evaluated by Dr. R. Glen Uhrig and Amanda Gregoris. Invitations to present will be sent out prior to the start of Botany 2015 to allow preparation. Day of Colloquium: Dr. R Glen Uhrig and Amanda Gregoris will moderate the colloquium. After their introduction, each panel member (4-5 total) will give a short presentation on their background, career trajectory, specialization and how this relates to transforming plant science into business ideas. Moderators will then conduct a quick introductory discussion involving the panel members to orient the audience to the colloquium. After, each student / post-doctoral fellow (3 total) will present their 'pitch' to the panel members one at a time using a maximum of 5 presentation slides total. After each pitch, panelists will discuss the presented idea in terms of a business venture according to their expertise. This will be a Dragon's Den / Shark Tank style conversation. The colloquium will conclude with a 'Question Period' where panelists will answer questions from the audience. This will be followed by a 'Network Opportunity' where panelists will be encouraged to make themselves available to participants and/or interested audience members for further discussion. Outcomes: (1) Students and post-doctoral fellows attending Botany 2015 will have a forum to present their ideas to a panel of diverse experts whom utilize diverse aspects of plant science in business. (2) Panelists will have the opportunity to highlight their businesses through their introduction. They will also have the ability to engage potential employees or partners during the networking opportunity. (3) Audience members will experience how plant science can be transformed into business ventures by people in industry, as well as network industry contacts.


Log in to add this item to your schedule

1 - University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, CW 405, Biological Sciences Bldg., Edmonton, AB, Canada
2 - ETH Zurich, Department of Biology, Universitatstrasse 2, LFW Building, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland

Keywords:
Biotechnology
Entrepreneurship
Environment
Agriculture
Bioremediation
Industry
Horticulture
Biofuels.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: C5
Location: Salon 10/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: C5SUM
Abstract ID:24
Candidate for Awards:None


Copyright © 2000-2015, Botanical Society of America. All rights reserved