Queen’s prof an expert on bioeconomy

By Mark Lowey

The University of Calgary has chosen an accomplished, nationally prominent scientist to lead its Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE).

David Layzell will become executive director of ISEEE on July 1, 2008, succeeding interim director Warren Veale.

Layzell is currently professor and Queen’s Research Chair for a Sustainable Bioeconomy at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He is an expert on sustainable bioeconomy, a rapidly growing sector focused on energy security and climate change solutions.

From 1998 to early 2008, he served as founding president and CEO of BIOCAP Canada, a national university-based research foundation that coordinates, funds and communicates multi-disciplinary research on bioenergy and greenhouse gas emission offsets from agriculture and forestry.

“The world needs energy, but we need to learn how to produce and use energy in ways that are both environmentally and economically sustainable,” says Layzell.

“The University of Calgary, through ISEEE, is ideally positioned to be a global leader in generating the multi-disciplinary insights and technologies to inform policy and investment decisions that will take us to more sustainable energy systems.”

Under Layzell’s leadership, BIOCAP leveraged more than $54 million in funding from governments, leading industries and environmental groups to support university research involving more than 250 faculty and 400 graduate students at 38 universities.

“Dr. Layzell’s knowledge, experience and leadership abilities will guide ISEEE as it continues to work with industry and other partners to advance a top priority in the U of C’s academic plan—to be an international leader in energy and environment, an area that is strategically important for Alberta and the rest of Canada,” said University of Calgary President Harvey Weingarten,

As a professor of plant science in the Department of Biology at Queen’s University, Layzell authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and holds seven U.S. patents. His research accomplishments have been recognized by a number of awards, including an NSERC EWR Steacie Fellowship and election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.