The 11th Transatlantic Science Week

The Tranatslantic Science Week 2012 will be hosted by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Houston and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C. , in close cooperation with four Norwegian ministries and Sted institutions Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

This year’s program is still being prepared, but the preliminary outline suggests emphasis on medicine, in particular cancer research, global health, petroleum, energy and nano technologies. A special session on think tanks, and their fundamental role in tackling global challenges, is on the drawing board – as well as a session on technology transfer. In addition the program will as usual offer a range of optional, but compelling, site visits.

New this year is a stronger focus on the involvement of high level students and young researchers in the whole events. A particular sessions is planned for early career participants in the field of geo sciences and petroleum technology.

Registration and Accommodation

Registration and hotel reservation procedures will be announced here in the near future. A block booking has been made at Hotel ZaZa, located close to both conference Steds.

http://www.norway.org/houston
http://www.hotelzaza.com/

Rice University

Rice is ranked the 17th best University in the US. Rice University is a public university enrolling about 5500 students, 49 percent from Texas, 32 percent from elsewhere in the United States and 19 percent from outside the United States (the largest share from China and the Republic of Korea).

Rice is ranked the 17th best University in the US, Rice University has world-class faculties in natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences. Princeton Review ranked the Rice 5th best-value private university in USA by in 2012.

The university has eight schools/departments: The School of Agriculture, the George R. Brown School of Engineering, the School of Humanities, The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, the Shepherd School of Music, The Wiess School of Natural Sciences, The School of Social Sciences and the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
In addition Rice is hosting five centers of excellence: Bio-science, nanotech, high performance computing, energy and climate.

The acknowledged James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, established in 1993, is located on Rice campus and is one of the leading nonpartisan public policy think tanks in the country.

www.rice.edu

MD Anderson Cancer Center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is the largest freestanding cancer center in the world and one of the world’s most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.

MD Anderson provided cancer care for more than 108,000 patients during 2011. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey ranked the center as the top hospital in the nation for cancer care in 2011, achieving this highest ranking for the eight time the past 10 years.

Last year more than $623 million was invested in research and more than 6,800 trainees, including physicians, scientists, nurses and allied health professionals, took part in MD Anderson educational programs.

www.mdanderson.org

Program Framework

Monday Nov. 12
Venue: Hotel ZaZa, 5701 Main Street Houston, Texas 77005

09:00 am - 06:00 pm: Registration desk open
06:30 pm - 8:30 pm: Welcome Reception for all participants

Tuesday Nov. 13
Venue: Rice University, Shell Auditorium

09:00 am - 11:45 am: Opening Plenary Session
12:00 am - 01:30 pm: Plenary Luncheon: Innovation Driven Economic Growth

Venue: Rice University

02:00 pm – 05:00 pm: Parallell Workshop Sessions
Possible sessions, other suggestions to be considered (3 to be selected)
Session 1: Petroleum Technology: Research, Education and International
Session 2: Unconventional Energy Technologies
Session 3: Nanotechnology
Session 4: Global Health, Novel Technologies
Session 5: Tissue Engineering

05:00 pm – 06:30 pm: Special Student Session: ”Energy for the Future”

A topical arena for high-level students and young researchers in the field of geo sciences and petroleum technology. To be organized in cooperation with SPE, Society of Petroleum Engineers (student chapters in many cities including Houston)

02:00 pm – 05:00 pm: Think Tank Collaboration
Venue: Baker Institute, Rice University

Think tanks and their fundamental role in tackling global challenges.

Possible topics:

Uniting Oil and Democracy. Think tank perspectives on a stable global energy future, Energy Security and Supply, Collaborative Research on Peace and Reconciliation, Global Health as Driver for Peace and Stability.
Panel of think tank experts from the US and Norway

07:00 to 09:00 pm: Evening Program: Plenary Dinner
Venue: Rice University, Student Center

Wednesday Nov. 14
Venue: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mid Campus Building 1

09:00 am - 11:45 am: Plenary Session
12:00pm - 1:30 pm: Plenary Luncheon

02:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Parallell Workshop Sessions
Possible Sessions, other suggestions to be considered (3 to be selected):
Session 1: Personalized Cancer Treatment.
Session 2: Cancer Prevention.
Session 3: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Session 4: Heart Treatment/Trauma/Telemedicine

02:00 pm – 05:00 pm: Special half-day Session on Technology Transfer
Venue: Rice University

Involving Rice Alliance, Innovation Norway, Houston Office, Oslo MedTech and TTO offices from Norwegian Universities and relevant Science Parks

02:00 pm – 05:00 pm: Special Session on Research and Higher Education Collaboration: Partnership Opportunities
Venue: MD Anderson Cancer Center

05:30 pm – 06:30 pm: The Kavli Laureate Lecture by Dr. Donald M. Eigler (TBC)
Venue: Rice University

Dr. Donald M. Eigler, Fellow of the American Physical Society, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the 2010 Kavli Laureate in Nanoscience. Dr. Eigler’s imaging of electron wave patterns in his demonstrations of quantum corrals earned him the front cover of Science, Physics Today and Nature, all within the space of a few months. He has received numerous awards.

07:00 pm to 09:00 pm: Evening Program: Dinner, with cultural entertainment
Possible venue: Hotel ZaZa, Ballroom

Thursday Nov. 15

Optional Separate Events
Venues: TBA

• Session on Innovation and Commercialization in Medical Technologies, to be staged by Oslo Medtech (TBC)
• Special session at Texas Heart Institute (with representatives from several universities in Norway)
• Special session on Global Health: Follow-up of the Houston Roundtable January 5 2012
• Special session on Fulbright Arctic Chairs

Optional Visits to selected companies, organized by Innovation Norway and INTSOK

Special One Day Workshop on Cancer Research Collaboration

Building upon the existing Cancer research collaboration between MD Anderson Cancer Center and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo Cancer Center, The Radium Hospital, The Norwegian Cancer Registry, Stavanger University Hospital and others.

Relevant topics to be covered, to include: Cancer Registry, Personalized Medicine, Pallative Medicine, Smoking Cessation, Survivorship, Metastatis, Immunotherapy, Medical Informatics and Vaccines

Friday Nov. 16

Optional Site Visits:

• University of Texas, Austin: Half-day special Abel Prize mathematics seminar
• Texas A&M, College Station: Special workshop session on Petroleum Research
• University of Houston: Possible follow-up of collaboration with UiS
• Site visit/workshop at Statoil with participation of NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency) focused on the interface of energy, water and air
• Possible visit to ExxonMobile Research Center
• NASA Johnson Space Center, workshop on Space and energy
• Visit to Clifton, TX, the Cleng Peerson Institute
• Optional visits to selected companies, organized by Innovation Norway and INTSOK

Information Material, Poster Sessions

Throughout TSW2012, facilities will be made available for participating institutions to disseminate relevant information material, do video screenings, etc. It will also be poster sessions.