New Technology Offers Hope to Resource Development Problems

Top experts to focus on the application of genomics to oil and gas development

CALGARY, Feb. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - On February 17^th at the Westin in Calgary, Genome Alberta (genomealberta.ca) and the Public Policy Forum (www.ppforum.ca) are co-hosting a workshop on how genomics tools and technology can be applied to the development of hydrocarbon resources here and around the world.

Genomic or genetics are not the first things that come to mind when you think of Alberta's oil and gas industry but there is a strong and useful relationship. Understanding microbial action in hydrocarbons can help in many ways:

• Help clean up tailing ponds
• Decrease water use in the extraction process
• Reduce souring in oil reserves
• Reduce corrosion in pipelines and oilfield equipment

Note that especially in preventing corrosion and treatment of wastewaters, microbial solutions are already fairly well established practices. The list of how genomics is used now, and how it can be used in future oil and gas development will be the focus of an impressive group of panelists and speakers at the workshop:

• Terry Hazen - A recognized authority on bioremediation of the Gulf after the BP oil spill and a professor at the University of Tennessee
• David Mitchell - CEO of the Public Policy Forum
• Gerry Protti - Vice-Chair of Alberta Innovates Technology Futures and founding President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Jason Switzer - Director of Corporate Consulting at the Pembina Institute
• Eddy Isaacs - CEO of Alberta Innovates Energy and Environmental Solutions
• Elizabeth Edwards - Professor, University of Toronto, specializing in bioremediation, engineering scale-up and commercial application of bioproducts
• Pierre Meulien - CEO and President of Genome Canada
• Steven Larter - Professor at the University of Calgary specializing in metagenomics and hydrocarbon energy production
• Subodh Gupta - Chief of Technology Development for Cenovus Energy
• Vincent Saubestre - Executive Director of the Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI)
• Mehrdad Hajibabaei - Assistant Professor Biodiversity Institute of Ontario Department of Integrative Biology
• Paul Willems -  BP, Technology Vice President,  Energy Biosciences
• Elizabeth Cannon - President of the University of Calgary

Genome Alberta is a not-for-profit funder of genomics research and is holding the workshop to:

• Discuss the role genomics can play in developing a more productive and responsible Alberta energy sector
• Assess the Albertan, Canadian and international research and infrastructure capacity in environmental and energy genomics
• Explore funding models to advance this area of research.

Media are welcome to attend the workshop and we can make many of the speakers available for an interview or offer Genome Alberta's Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Gijs van Rooijen for a general interview on the relationship between energy development and genomics.

Complete Agenda

Calgary Westin - Britannia Room
320 4^th Avenue SW

Agenda

8:00a - Breakfast

8:20a - Welcome by David Bailey, President and CEO of Genome Alberta

Session Chair: Gijs van Rooijen, Chief Scientific Officer, Genome Alberta

8:30a - 9:00a  Keynote Speaker on Metagenomics and Innovation Policy: Gerry Protti, Alberta Innovations Technology Futures

9:00a - 9:15a Introductory Remarks:

9:15a - 10:00a Keynote Speaker on Metagenomics and Bioremediation: Terry Hazen, University of Tennessee

10:00a - 10:15a Coffee Break

10:15a - 11:00a  Keynote Speaker on Metagenomics and Hydrocarbon Energy Production: Steve Larter, University of Calgary

Moderator:   Tom Jack, University of Calgary

11:00a - 12:00p Panel 1: Will genomics based technologies revolutionize hydrocarbon extraction and mitigate its environmental impact?

12: 00p - 1:00p Lunch

1:00p - 2:00p Panel 2:   Is there currently the intellectual and infrastructure capacity to develop and apply genomic based biotechnologies to the hydrocarbon sector?

2:00p - 3:00p Panel 3:   What are the possible funding models to drive genomics based innovation in the hydrocarbon sector in Alberta and Canada?

3:00p - 3:30p Concluding comments by David Mitchell, President and CEO of the Public Policy Forum

Panel 1:

Dr. Steven Larter
Mr. Jason Switzer
Dr. Eddy Isaacs
Dr. Terry Hazen
Dr. Vincent Saubestre

Panel 2:

Dr. Steven Larter
Dr. Pierre Meulien
Dr. Elizabeth Edwards
Dr. Mehrdad Hajibabaei
Dr. Paul Willems

Panel 3:

Dr. Subodh Gupta
Dr. Vincent Saubestre
Dr. Paul Willems
Dr. Marvin Fritzler
Dr. Pierre Meulien

Mike Spear
Director of Communications
Genome Alberta
[email protected]
403-813-5843

Or

Heather Smith
Jr. Program Coordinator
Genome Alberta
[email protected]
403-503-5220 ext. 24