Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life

I just got my copy of the book “Biopunk:  DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life“ and it’s a page turner: pithy and fascinating.  It also features a couple chapters on my LavaAmp co-conspirators Guido and Joseph. We’re getting some decent free press on this one, that’s for sure. There was a feature last week in The Guardian interviewing Joseph and Guido won us a $40,000 USD grant through Start Up Chile.

From a write up in BoingBoing in April comes this quote: “We reject the popular perception that science is only done in million-dollar university, government, or corporate labs; we assert that the right of freedom of inquiry, to do research and pursue understanding under one’s own direction, is as fundamental a right as that of free speech or freedom of religion,” Patterson writes in A Biopunk Manifesto, a biohacker call-to-arms she wrote last year.

“We have no quarrel with Big Science; we merely recall that Small Science has always been just as critical to the development of the body of human knowledge, and we refuse to see it extinguished.”

That’s a “Two Fer” Meredith.  As in fer shure, fer shure……..

BioBriefing: Industry Knowledge for the Non-Scientist

BioBriefing – 1 Day Class Industry Knowledge for the Non-Scientist June 16 | Frederick, MD

BioBriefing provides a concise overview of the key concepts of biotechnology and an introduction to the technology and terminology used by the biotech and pharma industries. Class Details: Date: June 16, 2011 Time: 9:00am-4:30pm Location: Frederick Chamber of Commerce 8420B Gas House Pike Frederick, MD 21701 Fee: $545 Deliverables: A reference guide packed with all the slides presented in the class, background scientific information, statistics, and a glossary of terms. Lunch and refreshments provided. Class Agenda: Industry Overview 9:00-10:15 Biotechnology Defined Industry Sectors: Healthcare, Agriculture, Industrial, Environmental Spotlight on Diagnostics Top Companies Structure of a BioScience Company Break 10:15-10:30 How Basic Science Drives Biotech 10:30-12:00 Biotechnology Goals The Cell DNA Genomes Genetic Variation Proteins Lab: DNA Isolation Activity: Genetic Variation of Taste Lunch 12:00-1:00 Genetic Engineering 1:00-2:00 Plasmids Recombinant DNA Genetically Engineered Cells Recombinant Proteins (Biologics) Disease Models Antibodies 2:00-2:45 Antibodies Defined How Antibodies Are Made Biotech applications of Antibodies Break 2:45-3:00 Drug Discovery & Development 3:00-4:15 Drug Discovery Timeline Rational Drug Discovery Target Validation Preclinical & Clinical Trials Q&A/Review 4:15-4:30 Who Will Benefit: Professionals from all sectors of the biotech, pharma and life sciences industries, including: sales, marketing, HR, legal, manufacturing, business development, finance, management, government relations, IT, safety, tech transfer Policy makers, lobbyists, attorneys Venture capitalists, angel investors, banks, analysts, financial managers Insurance brokers, real estate professionals Consultants, public relations specialists, journalists Bioscience association staff, economic development executives University administrators, research institute support staff Past Class Participants Include: Amgen, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Alexandria Real Estate, AstraZeneca, Biogen Idec, BIO, California Healthcare Institute, Chubb Insurance, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, Genentech, GE Financial, IBM, Life Technologies, Johns Hopkins University, KPMG, RENO Construction, Marsh, MedImmune, Merrill Lynch, Miles & Stockbridge P.C., Millipore, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Novartis, SAS, Stratagene, UCSF Questions? Contact Kerri Muir at 410-377-4429 ext. 22 or muir@biotechprimerinc.com Classes fill up quick so register today!

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