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Mars hosts key scientific panel discussion at one of the largest ever gatherings of Nobel Laureates

Lindau, Germany (ots)

To tackle the world's most pressing issues, genuine collaboration 
between the academic community, government and industry is needed, 
Mars, Incorporated said yesterday. As part of the Lindau Nobel 
Laureate Meetings, Mars hosted an interdisciplinary panel discussion 
addressing the far-reaching impact science can have on society.
The Mars panel discussion is a key event at the Lindau Nobel 
Laureate Meetings - a globally recognized forum that has been 
bringing together Nobel Laureates and the world's most promising 
young scientists since 1951. This year's meeting, taking place from 
27th June to 2nd July, sees 61 Nobel Laureates meet with the world's 
best young researchers to discuss topics that will be central to 
future scientific debate. Following more than 30,000 applications, 
650 young researchers were selected to participate in the meetings 
set on the banks of Lake Constance between Germany, Austria and 
Switzerland.
Yesterday's panel discussion is characteristic of the unique 
interaction that takes place at Lindau and featured the views of 
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Physiology or Medicine Nobel Laureate; 
Howard Shapiro, Global Staff Officer of Plant Science and External 
Research, Mars, Incorporated and Tanya Petrossian, a selected young 
researcher from UCLA. Adam Smith, Editor in Chief, Nobelprize.org, 
moderated the panel and chaired an in-depth Q&A session with the 
diverse student audience.
"By facilitating open and meaningful dialogue between the 
scientific leaders of today and tomorrow, we aim to inspire the next 
generation of scientists to pursue innovation for the benefit of the 
global community," said Howard Shapiro. Shapiro, who leads the Mars 
team sequencing the cocoa genome, spoke of how science can be used to
advance sustainability and harnessed as an economic and social driver
in the world's poorest regions.
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 
Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for her work in the identification of 
HIV as the cause of AIDS, gave a unique insight into how science can 
shape society and the value of such a debate. "It is clear that the 
young investigators are already thinking deeply about the role of 
science in society and this enormous topic will be an important 
element to include in future Lindau meetings," said Françoise 
Barré-Sinoussi speaking after the panel.
Global collaboration is a key tenet of Mars science strategy. In 
2007, Mars entered into its engagement with the Lindau organization 
and has since been closely involved in the meetings. This year, Mars 
sponsored seven young researchers from the United States to attend 
and participate in this unique forum and interact with Nobel 
Laureates from various disciplines.
About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 
1911 and employing more than 65,000 associates at over 370 sites, 
including 135 factories, in 68 countries worldwide. Headquartered in 
McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's 
largest food companies, generating global sales of more than $28 
billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, 
Petcare, Wrigley Gum and Confections, Food, Drinks, and 
Symbioscience.
Mars entered into its engagement with the Lindau organization in 
2007. In 2008, Pamela Mars was appointed to the Honorary Senate of 
the Lindau Foundation of Nobel prizewinners.
About the cocoa genome
In June 2008, Mars, Incorporated, the United States Department of 
Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and IBM 
announced that they would sequence, annotate and assemble the cocoa 
genome. A genome is essentially a map of all the components that make
up the characteristics of an organism - in this case, cocoa. By 
understanding the exact location of these characteristics, it is 
easier to breed cocoa plants that have beneficial characteristics.
This public-private collaboration may enable the world's 6.5 
million cocoa farmers to plant better quality cocoa and, more 
importantly, help create healthier, stronger cocoa crops with higher 
yields, pest and disease resistance, and increased water and 
nutrient-use efficiency.
About The Nobel Laureate Meetings at Lindau
The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings are a globally-recognised forum
which has been bringing Nobel prizewinners and the world's most 
promising young scientists together since 1951. The week-long, annual
event takes place in Lindau, set on the banks of Lake Constance 
between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The meetings consist of 
panel discussions, lectures, seminars and social events to facilitate
interaction between Nobel Laureates and the scientific and academic 
elite of the future.
This year's meeting will be an interdisciplinary event bringing 
together young researchers from all continents and 61 Nobel Laureates
in physiology, medicine, physics and chemistry. The Meetings will 
take place from 27th June - 2nd July 2010.
For more information, please see: http://www.lindau-nobel.de/
For more information, please contact
Roland Klein 
M +44 7776 162 997
Julian Hill 
M +44 7825 768 740