The Road Ahead for BF

Geoffrey Hamer,  Honorary Secretary,  Biofocus Foundation.  


As Professor Heden mentioned in his introduction, the Biofocus Foundation (BF) was established under the auspices of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) in response to the ever growing importance of biology in its broadest sense, particularly its central role in Sustainable Development.  While some of the negative and potentially adverse aspects of biology were realized long ago, most of the positive and productive aspects of what was termed “new biology”, essentially applied molecular biology, only became evident in the 1980s.  With initial emphasis on Nordic issues and using the collective knowledge base vested in the fellows of WAAS, BF initiated, in 2000, a series of annual Biopolicy Seminars which have allowed it to serve as a specialist think-tank providing an imaginative multi- and inter-disciplinary approach to bioprocess system dynamics of medical, environmental and industrial importance.

Carl-Goran Heden has served as Director General of BF since its establishment in 1990, but has recently stepped down.  The head office of BF has moved from Stockholm to London (‘phone +44 (0) 207 583 9085; e-mail ghamer@eircom.net) and I am currently establishing a programme which reflects the present competence of BF.  

In taking over Professor Heden’s responsibilities for BF, the old saying – “Generals never die, they just fade away”, comes immediately to mind, particularly as Professor Heden has promised to retain a BF office in Stockholm to provide continued support and to maintain BF’s important and active contacts with the Royal Swedish Academies of Sciences and of Engineering Sciences.  In addition, I trust that such a focal point will also allow the maintenance of fruitful contact with Anders Wijkman, who will stand down as Chairman of BF when his replacement is announced after the next Board Meeting of WAAS in August, 2007.

Since 2002, I have had the privilege to serve as Honorary Secretary of BF, with the objective of establishing a broader geographical base for BF activities.  Since 2005, the thrust of activity has been towards establishing a programme of collaboration with institutes in the Middle East.  Such a programme will clearly have regional implications, but will also be relevant to many of the World’s fresh water limited economies where, increasingly, hot arid and semi-arid natural environments are increasingly subject to engineered modification for productivity, economic and humanitarian gains.  

An initial list of programmes has been proposed, but their execution depends on collaboration with credible research institutes in the Region.  The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (Kuwait) and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (Dubai) have been identified in this respect.  The four programmes areas selected for further consultation are:

1) Interior environment and climate shell atmosphere control using effective polluted air biotreatment;
2) Trace gas and vapour emissions from irrigated agriculture, managed coastal wetlands and reservoir construction, and evaluation of incidental air pollutant release;
3) Sewage sludge hygienization, emerging pathogens and bioremediation;
4) Stress protein dynamics in and the economics approach to bacterial process cultures.

While relatively diverse as far as programme objectives are concerned, the four programmes are internally integrated as far as their scientific basis is concerned.  Essentially, they form a cohesive mosaic of multi- and inter- disciplinary subject matter based on scientific developments stemming from  research on the applied physiology of gaseous substrate utilizing microbial consortia, originating in Stockholm some 45 years ago, and which remains within the domain of expertise of the Biofocus Foundation.  

In all cases, the proposed programmes will require either laboratory or field studies carried out by collaborating institutes.  The Biofocus Foundation will maintain overall responsibility for programme management, scientific and technological evaluation as well as the publication of results in a series of  monographs and perhaps even some further “Biopolicy Seminars”.

This brief statement summarizes how I see the future development of BF activity, but as far as today is concerned, brings closure to this successful seminar which has illustrated how superficially unrelated topics can create a setting where numerous constructive ideas can emerge.  On behalf of the organizing committee, I thank the granting agencies for making this gathering possible and, of course, thank all participants for breaking away from their busy schedules in order to join us.  

The present seminar is now closed.