Scope
Aqueous silicon chemistry plays an important role in many fields. Silicates in the Earth’s crust interact with water to yield life sustaining soils and mineral deposits, and are used to manufacture key commodities such as cement, catalysts and semiconductors. It is biology that controls the global Si cycle, however, with single-celled algae (diatoms) taking up the majority of dissolved silicon to construct ornate cell wall structures. Higher plants require a constant Si supply to defend against biological and physical stresses. In mammals, silicon appears to stimulates connective tissue growth (bone, skin, blood vessels).
Main topics
Detailed preliminary programme for Si Workshop
- Si transport and homeostasis in biology, including diatoms, plants and animals
- Si in the diet, environment and agriculture
- Si aqueous chemistry, biochemistry and analysis
- Si in biominerals and biomaterials
Confirmed keynote Speakers
-”Beer, Silicon and Health” lecture: Dr Jonathan Powell, MRC HNR, Cambridge, UK
-The biology of Silicon: Prof Jian Feng Ma, Okayama University, Japan
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Jonathan Powell (UK)
Stephen Kinrade (Canada)
Ravin Jugdaohsingh (UK)
Local Organising Committee
Jonathan Powell (Chair)
Ravin Jugdaohsingh
Sylvaine Bruggraber
11th ISMIBM organising committee
Silicon Workshops: History in photos
2005: Aqueous Chemistry and Biochemistry of Silicon (PacifiChem 2005, Hawaii, USA)
2007: Christmas Silicon brain teaser (Cambridge, UK)
2009: 3rd Workshop on the Aqueous Chemistry and Biochemistry of Silicon (La Jolla, USA). In tribute to Prof Benjamin E. Volcani (1915-1999)