ABSA Conferences & Events

65th ABSA Annual Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference (2022)

The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) is an organization that promotes biosafety as a scientific discipline and serves the growing needs of biosafety professionals throughout the world. Its goals are to provide a professional association that represents the interests and needs of practitioners of biological safety, and to provide a forum for the continued and timely exchange of biosafety information. Two Biodefense Graduate Program students attended this year’s ABSA Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference in Milwaukee in late October. Learn about their experiences below.

Omar Mukhlis- Biosafety and Biosecurity: The Role of Public Health, Law Enforcement, and Research

64th ABSA Annual Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference (2021)

The ABSA 64th Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Conference was hosted October 23-27, 2021, in Raleigh, North Carolina and online. This year, two Biodefense Graduate Program students attended the conference. Check out their experiences below.

Emily Johnson- Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Filling the Toolbox: Staying Vigilant and Preparing for the Next Public Health Event

USDA ARS 6th International Biosafety and Biocontainment Virtual Symposium (2021)

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the chief scientific in-house research agency of the USDA. The USDA ARS hosted the 6th International Biosafety and Biocontainment Symposium, held virtually in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, on February 2- 4, 2021. This symposium brought together experts in academia, research, government, and industry to discuss the emerging biorisk challenges in agriculture. This year, three students from the Biodefense Graduate Program attended the conference and their reports are available below.

Rachel-Paige Casey – Biosafety Challenges in COVID-19 (So Far)

Michelle Grundahl – Applying Biosafety Research to Lower Biorisk in the Laboratory: Building a Culture of Safety

Stevie Kiesel – African Swine Fever: Biosecurity Coordination and Early Detection to Mitigate the Risk

63rd ABSA Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Virtual Conference (2020)

The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) is an organization that promotes biosafety as a scientific discipline and serves the growing needs of biosafety professionals throughout the world. Its goals are to provide a professional association that represents the interests and needs of practitioners of biological safety, and to provide a forum for the continued and timely exchange of biosafety information. The 63rd American Biological Safety Association Annual Biosafety and Biosecurity Virtual Conference convened the global community of biosafety and biosecurity practitioners and experts from November 4 – 6, 2020. This conference focused on a broad variety of topics dealing with biosafety, biosecurity, and bioethics with an emphasis on activities and challenges related to COVID-19. This year, three students from the Biodefense Graduate Program attended the conference and their reports are available below.

Rachel-Paige Casey – From Autoclaving to Zoonoses: How the Biosafety and Biosecurity Community Embraces Improvement

Sally Huang – Integrating Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices for Robust Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response

Yong-Bee Lim – Necessity as the Mother of Invention