Biomanufacturing Students Attend “Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Towards a Sustainable Future”

On May 1, students from Skyline College’s Biomanufacturing 171 class had the opportunity to attend the West Coast Chapter PDA (Parenteral Drug Association) conference, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Towards a Sustainable Future. The event took place at the Gilead Sciences campus in Foster City, California — conveniently timed during the students’ regular lab period.

For many, this was their first professional conference in the field of biomanufacturing, and the presentations were accessible and engaging, even for beginning students. Industry leaders discussed how pharmaceutical manufacturing is evolving to become more environmentally conscious.

· Thermo Fisher Scientific shared their efforts to phase out fossil fuels and accelerate the use of renewable electricity in their facilities.

· Amgen presented a talk on the life cycle assessment of their products, highlighting how aspects like cold chain requirements significantly contribute to a product’s carbon footprint.

· Many companies expressed their goals to reduce reliance on hard-to-recycle disposables, both in laboratories and manufacturing processes.

In addition to the presentations, students had the chance to meet one-on-one with industry vendors during networking sessions and lunch. Companies like CP Lab Safety shared insights about their products, sustainability initiatives, and whether they were hiring — giving students a clearer view into industry careers and company missions.

Overall, it was an eye-opening and inspiring day. Students gained valuable insight into the current trends and values shaping the biomanufacturing industry, and they left encouraged — knowing that the field they’re preparing to enter is not only focused on improving health, but also committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

In the photo below, by Nick Kapp, Dr. Yashu Sarna speaks with Biomanufacturing students Henry Huynh, Kimberly Cabrigas, and Frank Crumb. Students expressed their gratitude to Dr. Sarna and the WCC PDA for sponsoring their attendance at the event.