The Mars Society is pleased to announce that Dr. Steven Benner, a renowned biochemist known for his pioneering work in synthetic biology, dynamic combinatorial chemistry, and paleo-molecular biology, will deliver a plenary address at the 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention in Seattle this August. His talk, titled “Strategies for Life to Survive on the Near Surface of Mars – Indigenous and Human,” promises to be one of the highlights of the event.
Dr. Benner, a Distinguished Fellow at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, has made significant contributions to the field of synthetic biology, including the first synthesis of a gene for an enzyme and the creation of artificial genetic systems that have enhanced clinical assays for HIV and Hepatitis. He has also advanced dynamic combinatorial chemistry, aiding in the discovery of small molecular therapeutic leads, and developed paleo-molecular biology to study ancestral proteins from extinct organisms.
Dr. Benner holds a B.S. and M.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University. His accolades include the Dreyfus Award for Young Faculty, the Sloan Foundation Fellowship, and recognition as a Fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life.
For more information on the upcoming International Mars Society Convention, including registration, volunteer, and sponsorship opportunities, visit marssociety.org. Also please remember that early bird discounted ticket sales end on June 30th.
