As summer meanders into August, the next academic year inexorably approaches. We all know what that means: time to plan how to get away from the grind, while refreshing your stock of scientific inspiration. If that sounds like a synthetic biology conference to you, then definitely check out the upcoming synbio conferences below.
SynBioBeta SF 2016: Oct. 4-6, San Francisco California, USA
SynBioBeta is a conference for synthetic biologists who want to make things happen in the real world. Billing itself as “the leading community of [synthetic biology] entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and enthusiasts”, SynBioBeta offers news, job postings, and networking alongside its conference series. This October’s lineup in San Francisco boasts a powerhouse of movers and shakers from both industry and academia, and its sessions cover pretty much everything you could want. Early registration ends August 16, and (pro tip) you get 25% off if you become a member.
iGEM Jamboree: October 27-31, Boston Massachusetts, USA
For students or others wanting an introduction to the field, you can’t go wrong with the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machines) Giant Jamboree. The center of the iGEM Jamboree is a giant science fair-style competition between teams from high school, college, or even community biohackers. The team presentations should provide a flavor for how getting started in synbio works, and as an educational event, the jamboree also includes a series of beginner-friendly workshops. If this sounds good, don your College t-shirt (or maybe hoodie, for Boston October) and register by August 31 for regular prices, or by October 7 if you have a spare $100.
International Conference on Plant Synthetic Biology and Bioengineering: December 16-18, Miami Beach Florida, USA
For the more verdant among us, you can keep your thumbs green at ICPSBB, hosted by the Society for Biological Engineering and sponsored by ACS Syn Bio. With session topics ranging from plant genome and plastid engineering to industrial bioproduction, this conference is sure to help you grow. Abstracts are due by August 15.
Winter Q-Bio: February 21-24 2017, Kauai Hawaii, USA
Now in its fourth year, the winter q-bio meeting offers a tropical conference on quantitative biology. The agenda and deadlines are not yet set, but if past iterations are anything to go by, this will be chock full of great science at a great venue. Grab your board shorts and check out the site here.
SXSW Eco: October 11, Austin Texas, USA
If traditional academic conferences aren’t giving you quite the experience you’re looking for, you could always branch out into South By Southwest Eco, which this year features Sarah Richardson of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, who will explore the potential of synthetic biology for sustainable food, fuels, and more. Other keynoters include Kate Brandt, Sustainability lead at Google, and Bill Nye, Science Guy. Check it out and register here.