Dr. J. Robert Beyster and Betty J. Beyster Make $2.5 Million Pledge to the J. Craig Venter Institute
LA JOLLA, CA — April 17, 2013 — The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) today announced that J. Robert Beyster and Betty J. Beyster will donate approximately $2.5 million to the Institute. The money will be used to support the completion of the new J. Craig Venter Institute sustainable laboratory currently under construction on the University of California, San Diego campus in La Jolla, CA. In recognition of this generous gift, the third floor ocean view conference room and terrace will be named the "Bob and Betty Beyster Conference Room" and the "Bob and Betty Beyster Terrace".
"We are very grateful to Bob and Betty for this very generous gift to JCVI," said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., JCVI Founder and CEO. "Their visionary support of our new sustainable building will enable our scientists to continue their groundbreaking research on a variety of genomic fronts."
The Beyster Family has been a supporter of science programs at the JCVI since 2009 when they, along with matching funds from Life Technologies Foundation, sponsored a two year leg of the Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling Expedition. This substantial support from the Beyster family enabled sampling research of microbial life in the waters of the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. These are scientifically important because they are among the world's largest seas isolated from the major oceans. To date more than 80 million new genes and protein families have been discovered as part of the Sorcerer II Expedition.
The Beyster's have also supported JCVI scientist Andy Allen, Ph.D. and his Southern California Upwelling Sampling Project. Dr. Allen has conducted sampling expeditions along the Southern California coast to better understand the microbes living in these waters. Dr. Beyster participated in 8 of the 11 sampling excursions that were conducted from his own boat, Solutions.
Dr. Beyster stated, "Betty and I are pleased to make this contribution to the J. Craig Venter Institute and it is our hope that it will further the trailblazing research that this organization is doing, particularly in the area of microbial genomics in marine environments. I am a great admirer of Craig Venter and his work, and I look forward to the completion of the Institute's new building. It is going to be magnificent."
For more information about the JCVI sustainable laboratory and how to support this one of a kind, proposed LEED Platinum certified building, contact Katie Collins, 858-200-1847.
About 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 200 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 http://www.weizhongli-lab.org.
Media Contact
Heather Kowalski, 301-943-8879, [email protected]