Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Workshop

Growing a Successful Canadian Bioeconomy

Date: Saturday, 22 June 2013, 8:30 am – 3:45 pm.

Location

Macdonald Campus of McGill University (Active Learning Classroom)
21111 Lakeshore Road
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3V9

Deadlines

Registration Deadline: 22 May 2013.

Hotel Registration Deadline: 1 May 2013. Click here for your hotel reservations

Deadline for HQP travel awards: Changed to 10 May 2013. Click here for the application form

Travel Awards

BioFuelNet Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) can apply for travel awards using this application form (please open this form in Adobe Reader).

Workshop Description

Biofuel production in Canada has been increasing steadily in the last decade. A large number of highly trained professionals capable of working across disciplines will be required to support the development of the emerging biofuels and bioproducts sectors. Producing the next generation of technicians, skilled workers, researchers, entrepreneurs and managers is essential to the success of the emerging bioeconomy.

BioFuelNet Canada, in collaboration with McGill’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers a customized workshop for training professionals in the bioeconomy. The workshop explores critical issues in the emerging bioeconomy with emphasis on sustainability concerns, policy aspects, forestry and agricultural challenges, and contributions from research and academia.

Confirmed Speakers

Keynote address and presentation on “Pyrolysis”
Professor Art J. Ragauskas
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Institute of Paper Science and Technology at Georgia Institute of Technology
Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
International Academy of Wood Science Fellow

“Integrated food and fuel production – how to manage a second-generation crop portfolio”
Dr. Emily Heaton
Assistant Professor of Agronomy
Iowa State University

“Agricultural Biomass: Issues and Availability”
Dr. Mark Stumborg
Head, Applied Science
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada

“The Importance of Coherent and Integrated Science Based Evidence to Support Public Policy for Biofuels Commercialization”
Dr. Terry McIntyre
Public Policy Specialist
Officer, Government Liaison & Quality Assurance
BioFuelNet Canada

“Tailoring the process to the feedstock: the economics of biofuels and biochemicals from wood”
Douglas Singbeil
Research Leader, BioEnergy
FPInnovations

Goals

Expose participants to skillsets necessary to excel in commercially-oriented, networked research environments.
Educate participants about the complexities and opportunities inherent in a multi-disciplinary sector.
Create opportunities to attract and retain highly skilled employees in academic, industrial or government aspects of the Canadian bio-economy.

Target Audience

This workshop is designed for graduate students in fields related to biofuels and bioproducts, such as chemical engineering, agriculture, plant sciences, environmental sciences and ecology. Undergraduate students are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

Objectives

Inform participants of the future needs of the bioeconomy in order to produce a well-qualified workforce.
Encourage movement between, and mutual understanding of, different sectors and stakeholder groups.
Stimulate exchanges across disciplines and sectors, particularly into and between academia, industry and policy/regulatory bodies.
Encourage development of experience across sectors of the bioeconomy.

Workshop Materials

Reference materials will be provided for this workshop.

Certificate of Participation

Upon successful completion of the workshop, a Certificate of Participation will be presented to each participant.

Hotel reservations

Click here for your hotel reservations

You are responsible for arranging your own hotel accommodations if you attend the BioFuelNet Annual General Meeting (AGM) and HQP Workshop. A block reservation has been made at the Holiday Inn with a special group rate of 126$ per night (+tax).

Logistics

A shuttle service will take participants from downtown Montreal to McGill’s Macdonald Campus and back. A stop on the way back will also be made at Pierre-Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Lunch will be at Tadja Hall Faculty Club (Macdonald Campus), on the shores of Lac St-Louis, weather permitting.