South Africa Conference & Workshop
Sandton Sun Hotel 1 – 4 March 2011

Presenter Biographies

FACILITATORS:

Professor Keith Cowan – Institure from Enviromental

Biotechnology, Rhodes University (EBRU)

Resume:

Professor Cowan has a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry and is Professor and Director of the Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, Rhodes University. He is also a consultant and provides scientific management consulting services to chemical and agrichemical companies, research institutes, universities, and individual scientists. Prior to this, he was senior scientist at Nutra-Park in Madison, WI where he headed basic research on the commercialization of phospholipid growth regulators. In this role, he managed research direction and scientific information transfer, and championed company and research outcomes to industry, customers and academia. Keith was previously professor (Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden) and, professor and research leader (Faculty of Agriculture & Agribusiness) at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. He has an extensive publication record; is on the editorial board of several scientific journals, is a referee for many scientific journals and a reviewer for international grant-funding agencies. His current area of research interest is in algae-to-energy systems.

EBRU has recently concluded a two-year investigation into algae-to-energy systems sponsored by Sasol. Also, a one-year study on production and utilization of bio-methane generated in an algae-driven integrated pond system for treatment of domestic waste was completed (sponsored by The Mvula Trust). Current projects include; scale-up of bio-methane production in partnership with DHV, SSI, and Makana Municipality; microalgae to glycerol in partnership with the University of Greenwich; carbon sequestration and biodiesel production in collaboration with Algae Tech Asia.

One success story is the adoption of the EBRU pioneered Integrated Algae Pond System (IAPS) for water treatment and energy recovery. This technology is now firmly in the portfolio of products offered by DHV Holland. A consortium of DHV/SSI/EBRU and Makana Municipality has won a Partners’ for Water (The Hague) to build a full scale demonstration facility at the Grahamstown WWTP. Construction will commence after April 2011.

Several smaller projects are currently underway to install bio-methane generation and waste water treatment facilities in the greater Eastern Cape Province.