Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Thomas Cech Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2023 BEC Economic Summit 

Boulder, Colorado – August 21, 2023 – Registration has opened for the 2023 BEC Economic Summit: Our Evolving Economy, and the Boulder Chamber and Boulder Economic Council are excited to announce the confirmation of this year’s keynote speaker- Nobel Prize winner in 1989, Dr. Thomas Cech.  

 Dr. Thomas Cech completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley in 1975, and entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he began his postdoctoral research. In 1978, he obtained his first faculty position at the University of Colorado where he lectured in undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry and remains on faculty as a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry. In 1989, Dr. Cech shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA.   

 Dr. Cech is currently working on a project of “Bringing RNA Science to the General Public,” including writing a book to be published next year.  

 "We are thrilled to host Dr. Cech this year. With the recent biosciences business activity here in Boulder, his insights and experience will certainly give broader context to how our local economy is evolving” says Scott Sternberg, Executive Director of the Boulder Economic Council. 

 This year’s Economic Summit will be held on Thursday, October 19 from 7:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. at the UCAR Center Green Auditorium. Focusing on how recent events have changed and shaped our economy, attendees will hear from individuals in our vibrant business community and gain a strong understanding on how many industry clusters, large and small businesses and a strong research and development footprint have given rise to a high degree of economic resilience.  

 The registration window for the 2023 BEC Boulder Economic Summit: Our Evolving Economy is now open. To confirm your spot, please visit the event registration page. Both in-person and livestream attendance options are available. 

 The Boulder Economic Council (BEC), the economic development arm of the Boulder Chamber, is a private, nonprofit leadership group of prominent business and community executives dedicated to Boulder’s economic prosperity. For more information, please visit the Boulder Economic Council website.

 The BEC Economic Summit is co-presented by Elevations Credit Union and the University of Colorado – Boulder.  

 About Boulder Chamber  

The nonprofit Boulder Chamber is the region’s flagship business advocacy and support organization. With more than 110 years of dedicated service to its members and the Boulder community, the Boulder Chamber’s innovative programs help local businesses succeed while sustaining an economy that preserves Boulder’s high quality of life, including its environmental and cultural assets. Together with its member businesses, the Boulder Chamber is building a smarter, more vibrant economy – sustaining Boulder’s position as a global capital of innovation and a thriving center of economic vitality. For more information, visit http://www.boulderchamber.com.