ABI celebrates 5 years

ABI Fall Research Symposium, which was hosted Friday. Featured keynote speaker John Peters associate director of Corporate Research and Development for the Proctor and Gamble Company.

Peters spoke on "Health Promotion in the 21st Century: Challenges and Choices" explaining that this is the first time in human history where malnutrition and over nutrition, or obesity, were equal in severity.

He first discussed under nutrition. Peters' company worked on several products that included some of the basic needed nutrients such as vitamin A, iodine and iron.

They tested those products in other countries on children.

P&G was unable to continue with the products because it is committed to its shareholders.

One product they have dealt with was a powder that helps purify water. The company has a 3.5 billion liter goal to meet by 2012 for the product.

"We've set goals for our self in this non-profit place," he said. "Stay tuned on this one."

He then turned his attention to another topic, America on the Move.

He listed some of the basic causes of obesity. He attributed growing obesity to "great-tasting, inexpensive food" being available everywhere and to people being less active.

Peters showed one slide with pictures of ways Americans are simplifying life and moving less.

Some of these devices included Segways, drive-through flu shots, drive-through restaurants, and escalators.

One of the problems he said was that we don't have a win-win business model for healthy behavior.

Peters said the economy, public policy and climate change could all lead to good changes.

"I think it's going to change the way we must live our lives," he said.

Peters also said the average adult in the U.S. gains about 1.8-2.0 pounds per year.

He said businesses should encourage more activities such as discounts for walking inside instead of going through the drive-through.

He argued that people need to take steps in the right direction and that this is "going to take time."

Peters concluded his address with a question and answer session and emphasized that it is important for people to speak up about issues like malnutrition and obesity.

"The more people that get their voice raised, the more they get listened to," he said.

Professors from around the state also came to campus to speak Friday as part of the symposium. The speakers included. Malathi Srivatsan, associate professor in the department of biological sciences at ASU; Rosalia C.M. Simmen, professor at the University of Arkansas medical sciences department of physiology and biophysics; Luke Howard, professor at the University of Arkansas department of food science in the division of agriculture; Dr. Josh Sakon, associate professor in the University of Arkansas department of chemistry and biochemistry; . Dana Gaddy, associate professor in the department of physiology and biophysics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

The symposium opened with Michael Dockter, ASU's associate vice chancellor for Research and Chief Research Officer, welcoming attendees. He was followed by the statewide Arkansas Bioscience Institute director, Bobby McGehee, who introduced Bill B. Lefler, Major General USASU (retired) and the chairman of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission.

The commission oversees the operations of ABI.

The Symposium events Friday preceded a Saturday morning celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) and the ground-breaking for ABI's Commercial Innovation Center (ABI-COM).

According to the Jonesboro Sun, the ABI-COM will be a business sector inside the ABI facility.

The ABI is a partnership of scientists from a number of universities and research facilities who work to improve the health of Arkansans through their medical and agricultural research.

Originally scheduled to be outdoors, the ceremony was moved indoors because of inclement weather throughout the week.

Speakers at the event included Gov. Mike Beebe, Chancellor Robert Potts and ABI Executive Director Carole Cramer.

Congressman Marion Berry attended and was not scheduled to speak but was invited up to say a few words.

Cramer was also recognized for her work with the Institute.

All the speakers at the ceremony spoke about how the institute got where it is today and about all the people who made ABI-COM and the prestigious ABI a reality.