The Fifth International Biennial Conference, BioVisionAlexandria 2010 (BVA 2010), organized by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), was held during the period from 11 to 15 April as a continuation of the tradition that started in BioVision 1999 in Lyon, France.

Within the scope of this year’s theme “New Life Sciences: Future Prospects”, the conference focused on three major themes: Health, Environment, Food and Agriculture. It succeeded in bringing together distinguished speakers and Nobel Laureates from the four corners of the globe. BioVisonAlexandria 2010 presented representatives of the greatest minds in the realms of industry, science, policy-making, media and civil society.

This year’s conference featured 167 eminent speakers, 81% international, who presented the four themes and shared their vast expertise and knowledge with the audience, approximately 1980, mostly from developing countries. During the Nobel Day, BioVisionAlexandria 2010 was honored to have five Nobel laureates among its recognizable guests. The Five Nobel laureates who attended the conference this year were Eric Maskin, in Economics (2007); John Robin Warren, in Medicine (2005); Kurt Wüthrich, in Chemistry (2002); Peter Agre, in Chemistry (2003); and Richard J. Roberts, in Physiology (1993). One of the major highlights of the conference was the Biorobotics session, entitled “The Theory of Biorobs: Towards the Future”, presented by 5 major scientists in this promising field.

Amid the conference a special exhibition, BioFair@BioVisionAlexandria, was held which included 23 exhibitors and offered a unique platform for top biotechnology, agricultural, environmental, pharmaceutical and publishing companies. Furthermore, a Poster Session was held for young researchers and scientists aiming to provide opportunities for them to present and discuss their work with life sciences professionals.

Preceding BioVisionAlexandria 2010, the TWAS/BioVisionAlexandria.NXT (BVA.NXT) Conference took place from 10 to 11 April 2010. It was the second BioVisionAlexandira.NXT to be organized in Alexandria. It included various panels and roundtable discussions under the theme “Publishing Scientific Papers in the Developing World”. 97 young scientists, representing 29 countries, 15% of which will be NXT alumni from both developed and developing countries attended the conference. They were able to demonstrate their projects and researches during the poster session.

BioVisonAlexandria 2010 succeeded in paving the way to explore the new frontiers and new areas in life sciences that will vastly serve humanity and provide hope for solving the world’s most pressing issues. The conference was an opportunity not only to meet great scientists, but also to have an open discussion with them about their theories, achievements and visions.