Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences Hosts Fourth Annual Conference for Women in Life Science Industry

CLAREMONT, Calif., Jan. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Novel solutions to 21st century innovation challenges is the theme of Keck Graduate Institute's fourth annual executive education conference for female leaders in the life science industry, to be held April 3-5, 2011.

The Women Innovate Conference will feature panels of female industry leaders in engineering, science and business ranging from small start-ups to global corporations. Together, the 20 distinguished panelists have been awarded approximately 100 patents.

"These women represent some of the most innovative thinkers in the life science industry," said Diana Bartlett, KGI's director of corporate partnerships. "The conference will explore what they do, how and why they do it, where they innovate, how they overcome challenges, and much more."

The underlying message regarding addressing the innovation gap is: "If not women, who? If not now, when?"

The conference is designed for women with six to 12 years of career experience in the life science industry who have achieved or who are ready to assume higher-level management positions.

A networking reception and dinner on Sunday, April 3, kicks off the two and a half day event.

Monday, April 4, will be devoted to technology innovation and, on the following day, business innovation will be highlighted. Both sessions will be held at KGI's sister institution, Scripps College in Claremont.

Since innovative women learn from each other, participants will have an opportunity to interact with industry leaders, network with other participants and take part in a series of peer group exercises. After each panel, the audience will be broken up into small discussion groups to tackle a question or challenge based on the panel discussion.

"We have revamped the conference in order to provide additional professional development and networking opportunities," Bartlett said.

Also new this year, three pricing tiers will enable more women to attend. Options range from $495 for a daylong web conference to $1,995 for the entire conference including materials and meals.

Bartlett said the conference is the only one of its kind for women science and business leaders in the life science industry.

Bonnie Anderson, CEO of Veracyte Inc., a pioneer in the emerging field of molecular cytology, was a panelist two years ago and will be returning as a panelist this year.

"I think it's awesome, women being able to see and hear firsthand from other women that so many different avenues in our careers are achievable and to not ever think that you can't do anything you might want to do," Anderson said.

Statistics show that more women earn PhDs annually than men, and although more highly trained women are going into the life science industry, only 10% of all patents issued go to women.

"We're trying to address the imbalance," Bartlett said.

KGI BackgrounD

Educating the future leaders of the bioscience industry, Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) offers an interdisciplinary graduate education through its Master of Bioscience (MBS), Postdoctoral Professional Masters in Bioscience Management (PPM), Postbaccalaureate Premedical Certificate (PPC), PhD and other academic programs. Using team-based learning and real-world projects, KGI's innovative curriculum seamlessly combines applied life sciences, bioengineering, bioethics and business management. KGI also has a robust research program concentrating on the translation of basic discoveries in the life sciences into applications that can benefit society. KGI is a member of The Claremont Colleges, located in Claremont, California.

Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences is dedicated to education and research aimed at translating into practice, for the benefit of society, the power and potential of the life sciences.

SOURCE KGI