Participation in the international symposium in Malaysia
During 20 to 23 October, 2024, the 19th International Symposium on Biopolymers (ISBP) took place in Penang, Malaysia. The event was organized by Universiti Sains Malaysia under the leadership of Prof. Kumar Sudesh. The main goal of the conference was to showcase the latest advancements in biopolymer synthesis, biodegradation, and commercial production, with a special focus on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The symposium attracted experts from all around the globe, who shared their research and innovative approaches in the field of sustainable materials.
One of the invited keynote speakers was Prof. Ing. Stanislav Obruča, Ph.D., who presented thermophilic microorganisms as promising PHA producers. Their ability to thrive at high temperatures offers advantages such as lower energy demands and reduced sterilization requirements. He highlighted a few specific PHA-producing microorganisms and pointed at their unique capabilities. Another notable contribution was by Assoc. Prof. Ing. Petr Sedláček, Ph.D., who discussed the development of gel-based biofertilizers using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria encapsulated in self-produced exopolysaccharides. Additionally, Ing. Veronika Řeháková shared her poster presentation on thermophilic bacteria from the genus Aneurinibacillus, which can incorporate a wide range of PHA monomers into their PHA chains.
The symposium went beyond scientific lectures and discussions, featuring practical events such as Industry Day, held in collaboration with GO!PHA, and the Moonshot Workshop. These activities highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to achieve sustainable material solutions. ISBP 2024 served not only as a platform for sharing scientific knowledge but also as an opportunity to foster cooperation between researchers, industry representatives, and other professionals from around the world.
