BIO accepting nominations for Rosalind Franklin Award.

2015 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology

WASHINGTON -- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) began accepting nominations for its second annual Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology. Each year, this award is given to an outstanding woman in the industrial biotechnology sector who has made significant contributions to the advancement of the biobased economy and biotech innovation. The 2015 BIO Rosalind Franklin Award will be presented at the 2015 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology to be held July 19-22, 2015 at the Palais des congrs de Montral in Montral, Canada.

With this award we hope to honor not only Rosalind Franklins legacy, but also those women who have shown exemplary leadership and led the way through uncharted territory.

Rosalind Franklin is an inspiration to female scientists; and yet her contribution to the modern field of biotechnology is often overlooked, stated Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, Industrial and Environmental at BIO. With this award we hope to honor not only Rosalind Franklins legacy, but also those women who have shown exemplary leadership and led the way through uncharted territory.

Rosalind Franklin conceived and captured Photograph 51 of the "B" form of DNA in 1952, while at King's College in London. This photograph, acquired through 100 hours of X-ray exposure from a machine Dr. Franklin herself refined, revealed the structure of DNA. The discovery of the structure of DNA was the single most important advance of modern biology. James Watson and Francis Crick, working at Cambridge University, used Photograph 51 as the basis for their famous model of DNA, which earned them a Nobel Prize in 1962. Though sometimes overlooked, Rosalind Franklins critical work and discovery in the field has allowed the biotechnology industry to become what it is today.

More information about the nomination process is available at https://www.bio.org/events/conferences/nominate-leader-industrial-biotechnology. The deadline for nominations is February 26, 2015. Nominees must be living individuals who exhibit leadership qualities, and have pioneered efforts in industrial biotechnology. Applicants should demonstrate significant innovative contributions in a field integral to the advancement of a biobased economy.

All programs at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters working full time for print, broadcast or web publications with valid press credentials.

For more information on the conference, please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress. For assistance, please contact worldcongress@bio.org.

About BIO BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the worlds largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling innovations transforming our world and the BIO Newsletter is the organizations bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter.

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BIO accepting nominations for Rosalind Franklin Award.