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Former Vice President Al Gore to Speak at Venter Institute’s Sustainable Lab Grand Opening Event November 9

Musical Entertainment Headliner is Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

ROCKVILLE, MD and SAN DIEGO, CA — October 30, 2013 — The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), a not-for-profit genomic research institute, today announced that former Vice President Al Gore will be the special guest speaker for their “Step into the Genome” Black Tie Grand Opening Fundraising Event on November 9, 2013. To celebrate the opening of the new sustainable, net zero carbon genomics laboratory in La Jolla, California, JCVI is also pleased to announce Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, as the headlining musical entertainment.  William Close and the Earth Harp Collective and Jennifer Spingola and Jesse Malloy will kick off the evening event which begins at 6 p.m.

Former Vice President Gore is co-founder and chairman of Generation Investment Management. He is a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and a member of Apple, Inc.'s board of directors. Gore spends the majority of his time as chairman of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit devoted to solving the climate crisis. Gore was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1982 and the U.S. Senate in 1984 and 1990. He was inaugurated as the forty-fifth Vice President of the United States on January 20, 1993, and served eight years. He is the author of the bestsellers Earth in the Balance, An Inconvenient Truth, The Assault on Reason, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis, and most recently, The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change. He is the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary and is the co-recipient, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for “informing the world of the dangers posed by climate change.”

“We cannot think of a more appropriate person to commemorate the opening of our net zero carbon, ultra green genomics lab than Al Gore. His commitment to sustainability and his determination to educate the world about climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time, is unparalleled. We are honored that Al will join us in opening this one of a kind building and look forward to hearing from the authority on the climate crisis,” said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO, J. Craig Venter Institute.

JCVI is also excited to announce headlining musical act Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.  This band is fronted by San Diego’s own Karl Denson, a legendary saxophonist who has been moving minds and bodies for nearly three decades of relentless touring.  He was a member of Lenny Kravitz’s band, a founding member of The Greyboy Allstars and a member of dub rockers Slightly Stoopid.  Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe plays a mix of funk infused jazz.

William Close and the Earth Harp Collective is the brainchild of William who is most famous for captivating audiences on “America’s Got Talent” in 2012, but he’s been fine tuning the “Earth Harp” since its creation in 1999.  It is the world’s largest stringed instrument and is truly a musical marvel described as kinetic indulgence of musical invention.

Roving violinist Jennifer Spingola accompanied by DJ Jesse Malloy will round out the musical entertainment. Spingola is an accomplished musician whose modern take on the violin has been turning heads around the world.  She’ll be making use of all the space the new building has to offer as she plays along to melodic beats that DJ Jesse serves up.

The gala is expected to draw approximately 250 guests who will experience the culinary wonders of Waters Catering. The Waters’ team has developed a “molecularly memorable” menu of delicious, science themed food and cocktail items to delight guests. The celebrity cocktail chef, Matthew Biancaniello will be on hand to “synthesize” specially crafted cocktails using innovative blends of alcohol and fine organic produce.

The landscape of the newly designed space will be brought to life thanks to the event experts of ShowTec, Inc., using their tool box of technical paintbrushes to celebrate the unique architecture and science of JCVI. Crafted seating pods, stylish tablescapes and vibrant projection washes will create a one of a kind gala.

This unique event will be the perfect event to showcase the beautiful glass, steel, concrete and wood JCVI sustainable lab which will be the new West Coast home to approximately 125 JCVI scientists and staff. The event is made possible only through the generous support from our sponsors. To learn more about the net zero carbon building, JCVI and the opening gala please visit, http://www.weizhongli-lab.org/cms/meetings/event/step-into-the-genome/overview/

About the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI)

The JCVI is a not-for-profit research institute in Rockville, MD and San Diego, CA dedicated to the advancement of the science of genomics; the understanding of its implications for society; and communication of those results to the scientific community, the public, and policymakers. Founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., the JCVI is home to approximately 250 scientists and staff with expertise in human and evolutionary biology, genetics, bioinformatics/informatics, information technology, high-throughput DNA sequencing, genomic and environmental policy research, and public education in science and science policy. The legacy organizations of the JCVI are: The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), The Center for the Advancement of Genomics (TCAG), the Institute for Biological Energy Alternatives (IBEA), the Joint Technology Center (JTC), and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation. The JCVI is a 501 (c)(3) organization. For additional information, please visit www.JCVI.org

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Media Contact

Heather Kowalski, 301-943-8879, hkowalski(AT)jcvi.org