“By studying ancient DNA we can learn how organisms adapt to climate change, how they reshuffle and reorganize as habitats shift, and how to create resilient ecosystems in the future. The past can be thought of as a completed evolutionary experiment that can inform how we decide to manage ecosystems today and into the future.”
~ Dr. Beth Shapiro
Ten thousand years ago, woolly mammoths, dire wolves and giant ground sloths roamed a very different world. Beth Shapiro wants to know what it would take to bring some of them back and what that could mean for the ecosystems we're trying to save today.
Shapiro is Chief Science Officer at Colossal Biosciences and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, where she founded and directs the Paleogenomics Lab. A pioneer in the field of ancient DNA, she has spent her career extracting genetic material from bones and permafrost to reconstruct how species lived, adapted and went extinct. Now she's applying that same science to a new question: can we use it to bring extinct species back and could doing so help restore ecosystems that have been unraveling for thousands of years?
In this talk, based on her book How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction, Shapiro walks through the real science behind de-extinction, what's possible, what isn't and why she believes the tools driving this work matter as much for saving species on the brink today as for reviving those already lost.
When: Monday, November 2, 2026
4:00 – 4:30 PM Registration
4:30 – 6:00 PM Keynote Address and Q&A
6:00 – 7:00 PM Reception
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre West Building
Why you should attend
Dr. Beth Shapiro’s talk offers a fascinating look at the science behind de-extinction and the rapidly advancing genetic technologies making it possible. Discover what it would actually take to recreate an extinct species, where the science still falls short and how these same tools could help protect endangered species, restore genetic diversity and build more resilient ecosystems.
Who should attend
This event is ideal for students, researchers, conservationists, biotechnology and healthcare professionals and anyone curious about genetics, evolution and the future of conservation. Whether you’re fascinated by mammoths, emerging biotechnology or the possibility of using genomics to protect species at risk, this talk will challenge assumptions about extinction and explore what it may mean to conserve life in a changing world.
Admission is free, however registration is required.
Accessibility
Genome BC is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs. Please contact us at events@genomebc.ca to let us know of any accessibility needs you may have to attend this event.
Health and Safety: Prioritizing Your Well-Being
We are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests. While no specific COVID-19 measures are currently mandated, we will continue to follow advice from the BCCDC and government health authorities. If any new health or safety requirements arise, we will notify you in advance of the event and ask that you follow the latest guidance.
By registering for this event, you agree to comply with any health and safety measures in place at the time. Please check this website for any updates, as guidelines may change.
Who was Don Rix?
Dr. Donald B. Rix, the innovator and a philanthropist for whom this event is named after had a broad palette of interests: medicine and science, education and the arts. He was a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Order of BC and one of the co-founders of Genome BC.
Don believed that technology and innovation were the fundamentals upon which to build the future of British Columbia. In a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade, he explained that technological innovation transcends all boundaries. He said:
"Not only does it create new industry sectors and new jobs, which in turn, boost economic output, it also provides traditional industries with advances that allow them to be more productive and competitive. Most importantly, technology improves every aspect of life by coming up with new ways to address important social issues."
Don was a visionary and a pioneer. Throughout his life he looked for gaps and created opportunities to fill them. As a physician Don saw the need for better diagnostics and helped to co-found a system of clinical labs across Canada — better known today as LifeLabs.
Don had a keen interest in biotechnology and as the Chair of our Board through our formative years. his influence on the development of Genome BC is still felt today. We should never lose sight of his vision or his spirit of collaboration — this has guided trajectory over the last 20 years.
When we lost Don in 2009, we decided to recognize his legacy by establishing this Annual Keynote Address — to continue to inspire our community. Don would approve of the keynote speakers we have invited over the years and the speaker at this year’s event is no exception.
Click the images below to learn more about previous Don Rix Distinguished Keynote speakers and their increcible contributions to science.
