PLENARY CONFERENCES
"Genetics in the vineyard", by J. E. Eiras Dias [ 
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Scientific Supervisor, National Institute of Agrarian Research (INIA), Portugal
Doctor Eiras-Dias conducts research in ampelography at the National Institute of Agrarian Research.Currently develops his research activity on morphological and molecular characterization of vine populations and vine varieties and on preservation of genetic resources.
Appointed coordinator of the Portuguese Ampelographic Collection, since 1986.
Attending member of the ‘Vitis Working Group’ on European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks (ECP/GR Fruit Network), since 2001.
Teaches ampelography and preservation of genetic resources on graduation and pos-graduation courses.
"Yeast: The wine builder", by Florian Bauer [ ]
Professor in Wine Biotechnology, Stelllenbosch University, South Africa
Professor Bauer is teaching fermentation biochemistry and biotechnology at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. His research is part of an integrated approach by a team of scientists that uses global data generation tools to describe, integrate and understand the molecular journey of a wine, from the vine to the final product. His projects are more specifically focusing on wine yeast and wine fermentation, and link the different levels of the biological information transfer system, from genome to metabolome, with oenologically relevant outcomes such as aroma and flavor production and modulation during fermentation.
"Flavor: a Brain Construct", by Ann Noble [ ]
Professor Emerita, University of California, USA
Professor Noble taught courses and conducted research in sensory evaluation of wine at University of California Davis. Her research focussed on factors that affect perception of flavor and which affect wine flavors. She is now consulting, teaching short courses and giving seminars in the USA and abroad introducing consumers and wine industry personnel to wine sensory evaluation. She also serves as a wine judge in national and international wine shows. She is most well known for the creation of the Wine Aroma Wheel which is available in many languages at www.winearomawheel.com