Advanced engineering biology research on show at third annual workshop
More than 75 experts from CSIRO and beyond gathered at Pullman on the Park in Melbourne for the third annual Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform workshop. From fast-paced elevator pitches to in-depth panels; a spotlight on student research to a showcase of industry connections – participants experienced a wide array of engaging talks.
Before the program commenced, a moving and informative Welcome to Country was offered by proud Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai Illum-Wurrung woman Stacie Piper. Stacie is a dancer, writer, artist and cultural consultant, who holds positions at the University of Melbourne and State Library Victoria, among others. She gave a compelling presentation on the importance of caring for Country, drawing attention to the major environmental threats to alpine forests and kelp forests alike.
AEB FSP Director Dr Robert Speight then kicked off proceedings explaining how the research program is collaborating with government and industry to position Australia for success in the global bioeconomy, while delivering widespread social benefits. He then handed over to research theme leaders to introduce the latest updates from their researchers.
Andrew Warden from the AEB FSP’s Data-Driven Molecular Design theme covered off some of the cool things happening in the area, which is where the power of AI and high-throughput data generation meets molecular biology to deliver solutions to bottlenecks in biological design. Helen Power, Candice Jones, Joshua Brown, Thomas Coudrat, Phil Kilby, Mariana Velasque, Marltan Wilson, Andy Bachler and Hafna Ahmed presented on their research progress, taking questions from the audience. Dan Steinberg wrapped up the session with a feature presentation.
Next up, Craig Morton from the Innovative Bioproduction Platform theme introduced a round of elevator pitches, delivered by Michael Breedon, Valentina Hurtado McCormick, Abubakar Madika, Santonu Sanyal, and Juan Martinez. The feature presentation was delivered by Marta Gallart Diumenge and Vincent Nowak, spotlighting bioactive molecules for plant health and agriculture.
For the afternoon session, Aditi Mankad welcomed researchers from the Interdisciplinary Decision-Making theme which she leads. Darcy Lefroy presented on rural health innovations, followed by Elizabeth Hobman, Reihaneh Bandari, Xueting Jiang, Rebekah Harms, Kirsty Wissing and Henry Dixon. This was followed by a presentation from Stefan Harrer of Science Digital.
The second day offered a student spotlight, MCed by Juan Martinez, where the talented PhD students offered an update on their progress and recent findings, answering questions from the audience. First up were Rashika Sood, Darcy Lefroy, Goncagul Cengiz Baris, Henrico Adrian, Irfan Hayat and Nick East. Stepping into the spotlight for the second session were Francisco Peralta, Jesus Flores, Daniel Bergen, Nathan Paul and Dani Montoya-Londono.
The afternoon served up a connection showcase, to explore and engage within the AEB ecosystem, understanding its impact and relevance. This saw presentations from Kirill Alexandrov (QUT), Megan Sebben (CSIRO’s SME Connect), Oliver Mead (CSIRO/Mycena), as well as Ben Muir and Simon Hardwick from BioNtech, Geoff Dumsday from ULUU, and Karyn Wylde of ANSTO.
To close out the day, a panel discussion featuring guests from research and industry prompted a dynamic exchange of ideas. Peppered with networking opportunities and large-scale poster displays, the AEB FSP annual workshop offered a chance for researchers to connect across disciplines. Special guests from industry and academia brought thought-provoking dialogue to the panels, highlighting the dynamism and potential of bioengineering and biomanufacturing to help tackle some of the greatest challenges.