Following the huge success of the International Mechanical Pulping Conference (IMPC) in June, BPI hosted two other international conferences in August.
The 2nd Sustainable Materials Research Summit (SMART) was held as a hybrid event for the first time from August 7-9th welcoming 110 in-person and 41 virtual delegates representing 57 organizations from 15 different countries.
Top scholars and experts gathered for knowledge exchanges and in-depth discussions on the latest advances in the field of sustainable materials innovations. The audience acclaimed the high calibre of the speakers and the quality of their presentations. All the technical sessions were livestreamed during the day and then rebroadcasted in the evening for virtual attendees connecting from China and European countries. They were recorded and published on the event portal for on-demand viewing for registered attendees.
The conference also provided plenty of networking opportunities including a Welcome Reception and Networking Dinner where the guests enjoyed exquisite food and live entertainment. The two day program included a poster session each day both of which were well attended. Aalto University's Bruno Mattos and UBC's Marcus Johns won the Best Poster Awards from each session. Congratulations!
A couple of happy comments from our anonymous post-event survey said:
“The technical program and focus were excellent overall. Out of any conference I have attended, this conference was one of the most directly relevant and useful to me.”
“There were some really wonderful presentations, the location was really beautiful, and there was lots of food, so no need to leave the event to search for something to eat and miss presentations”
Right after the SMART conference finished on a high note, the 6th LignoBiotech Symposium opened its door to welcome 150 delegates representing 62 organizations from 17 countries around the world. This long-awaited conference was held from Aug 9-12th as a 100% in-person event and for the first time hosted in North America. The overflowing joy and happiness of the community reuniting for a face-to-face gathering after the long Covid break was prevalent at the opening reception. The Gala Dinner was hosted at the iconic Cecil Green Park House featuring an Indigenous performance group to start off the evening. The party lasted until very late as many guests didn't want to leave, enjoying dancing and mingling.
The technical program featured international top experts from academia, industries and governments discussing the latest advances in biotechnologies that transform cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin into fuels, high-value chemicals, and new bio-based materials. The in-depth discussions in the panel talks and flash poster presentations showcasing young researchers were some of the highlights. Katharina Duran from Wageningen University and Joel Howard from University of Toronto won the Best Poster Awards from the two poster sessions. Congratulations!
A couple of anonymous comments from our post-event survey said:
“I really enjoyed the content, and thankful to the organizers - I think they did a great job all around. I also liked that the size of the conference was only 150 attendees - it made for a tight-knit environment, easy to network, and meant I wasn't forced to choose between different sessions.”
“( I liked ) the equal mix of academia, policymakers, and industry. Apart from the scientific aspect, I was personally introduced for the first time to Canada's local history and First Nations traditions in the area, thank you. It is highly appreciated.”
We would like to thank all the attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and the organizing committee members, without whom we could not have pulled together such wonderful events. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us at contact.bpi@ubc.ca.
- BPI Operations Team
