PLENARY SPEAKERS SNO 2018
Mihail C. Roco, PhD
Dr. Mike Roco is the Senior Advisor for Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation and founding chair of the U.S. National Science and Technology Council's subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET). Prior to joining National Science Foundation, he was professor of mechanical and chemical engineering. Dr. Roco is credited with thirteen inventions, contributed over two hundred articles and twenty books on multiphase systems, computer simulations, laser measurements, nanoparticles and nanosystems, and trends in emerging technologies. Recent volumes include "Convergence of Knowledge, Technology and Society" and "Nanotechnology Research Directions for Societal Needs in 2020". He proposed the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) on March 11, 1999, at the White House, and is a key architect of the NNI. Dr. Roco is Correspondent Member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, and Fellow of the ASME, IoPhysics and AIChE. Dr. Roco is editor-in-chief for the Journal of Nanoparticle Research. He was awarded the National Materials Advancement Award in 2007 "as the individual most responsible for support and investment in nanotechnology by government, industry, and academia worldwide", and received the IUMRS "Global Leadership and Service Award" at the EU Parliament in 2015 for "vision and dedicated leadership that has made major impact to all citizens around the world."
Hongda Chen, Ph.D.
Dr.
Hongda Chen is the National Program Leader for Bioprocess Engineering and Nanotechnology at National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA. He provides national leadership to develop nanoscale science, engineering, and technology for agriculture and food systems, and provides national leadership in engineering approaches for research, development, education and extension in food quality, safety and nutritional value. Currently, he directs Enhancing Food Safety through Improved Processing Technologies in the Food Safety Challenge programs; and Nanotechnology for Agriculture and Food Systems in the Foundation programs of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – the flagship of NIFA's competitive grants program. He has been a representative of USDA in the NSTC subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) since 2001. He served as a Co-Chair of the 2010 NNI Strategic Planning Task Force. He has spoken frequently on nanotechnology for agriculture and foods at conferences, symposia, and strategic planning meetings both in US and internationally. Dr. Chen received his Ph.D. in engineering from University of California, Davis. He was a professor of food engineering at University of Vermont from 1990 to 2000. Dr. Chen is an elected Fellow of Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and a Fellow of International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST) of IUFoST.
Treye Thomas, Ph.D.
Dr. Treye A. Thomas is the Leader of the Chemicals Hazards Program team Nanotechnology and Emerging Materials Program in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction. His responsibilities include establishing priorities and agency activities to identify and mitigate potential health risks to consumers resulting from product use. Dr. Thomas has conducted comprehensive exposure assessment studies of chemicals in consumer products and quantified the potential health risks to consumers exposed to various chemicals. He was responsible for developing the CPSC nanotechnology program and continues to identify key emerging product areas. He has served as a CPSC representative on a number of nanotechnology committees including the Federal Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) subcommittee, and is the co-chair for the Nanotechnology Environmental and Health Implications (NEHI) working group. Dr. Thomas received a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from UCR, a Master's degree in Environmental Health Sciences from UCLA, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences at the UT, Health Science Center. He completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Industrial Toxicology at the Warner-Lambert Corporation (now Pfizer Pharmaceutical).
Lynn Bergerson.
Ms. Bergeson is the managing partner at the Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®). Ms. Bergeson has earned an international reputation for her deep and expansive understanding of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), and especially how these regulatory programs pertain to nanotechnology, biotechnology, and other emerging transformative technologies. Her knowledge of and involvement in the policy process allows her to develop client-focused strategies whether advocating before Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or other governance and standard-setting bodies. Ms. Bergeson counsels corporations, trade associations, and business consortia on a wide range of issues pertaining to chemical hazard, exposure and risk assessment, risk communication, minimizing legal liability, and evolving regulatory and policy matters pertinent to products of conventional, biotechnology, biobased chemicals, nanotechnologies, and other emerging technologies, particularly with respect to TSCA, FIFRA, Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), REACH, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) matters. According to the 2012 Chambers USA Guide: "The universally highly regarded Lynn Bergeson of Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. has a solid reputation in chemical and pesticide regulatory work, with particular expertise in nanotechnology. Peers predict that she is set to become "one of the most important lawyers in America."
Barbara Karn, Ph.D.
Dr. Barbara Karn is currently Co-founder and Executive Director of The Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO). She recently retired as a program director at the National Science Foundation, managing research grants in the environment, health and safety of nanotechnology. Dr. Karn taught environmental science at George Washington University. Prior to joining NSF, she was an environmental scientist at EPA where she built and managed a research grant program in nanotechnology and the environment. Dr. Karn was named one of the Top Ten Experts in nanotechnology environment, health and safety issues by Nanotechnology Law and Business. Recently she was given an ACS award for her 10 years in leading the symposium on Nanotechnology and the Environment. She continues to serve as a senior advisor to the project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Scott Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Scott Brown is currently the Principal Investigator at The Chemours Company. He is serving as a corporate consultant in particle science, colloids, nanotechnology, and surface phenomena for product development and process improvement teams. He is also leading Chemour's internal Nanomaterials Regulatory Knowledge Cluster team focused on monitoring global activity regarding the regulation of nanomaterials and advocating for clear science and risk-based policies. He is also serves as the Nanotechnology Expert Team member of the Business and Industry Advisory Council (BIAC) to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). He also serves as the Chair of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Nanotechnology Panel. He served as an Innovation Panel member for the NSF Center for Sustainable Nanotechnologies. Dr. Brown is an active reviewer for multiple journal and research funding programs. Before Chemours, Dr. Brown was a Sr. Research Scientist in Du Pont from 2010-2015 where he led the integration of several new technologies for the advanced characterization of particulate materials and interfaces as well as developed fundamental structure-property correlations for existing DuPont products and next generation materials to enable rational design strategies for applications in the microelectronic, bioscience, nutrition and health and polymer composite sectors. Dr. Brown was also a research faculty member in the Particle Engineering Research Center (PERC), Center for Nano-bio Sensor (CNBS), NSF Center for Particulate and Surfactant Science (CPASS) at the University of Florida. There, he was awarded multiple federal and state funded grants involving engineered nanomaterials, nano-EHS, nano-medicine and advanced applications of surface probe microscopy (SPM) totaling more than $2M direct costs.