About & Schedule
Pearl Symposium is the first formal gathering of international experts in the field of natural pearls. A platform for technical, professional and market experts to present and discuss the latest findings, challenges, and solutions related to the field of natural pearls and the environment.
Pearl Symposium Talk (DAY 1)
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HOURS |
EVENT |
VENUE |
|
10:00-12:00 |
Tour of the Pearling Path – a UNESCO world heritage site |
Pearling Path Tour |
|
10:30-12:00 |
Press conference (for media only) |
Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research |
|
12:00-2:00 |
Lunch at a seafood restaurant by the sea |
Fishbone Restaurant |
|
2:00-3:00 |
Opening Address – Noora Jamsheer - CEO, Bahraini Institute for Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) Opening Address – Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri – President, CIBJO Keynote Address – H.E. Dr. Mohammed Bin Daina – Chief Executive, Supreme Council for Environment, Kingdom of Bahrain Subject: Bahrain and its Aquatic Environment |
Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research |
|
3:00-3:30 |
Coffee Break |
|
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3:30-6:00 |
Presentations by laboratory/industry experts 03:30 PM – 04:00 PM Presentation 1 – Justin Hunter – Owner and Operator, Fiji Pearls Subject: Pearling and the Environment – The Blue Pledge 04:00 PM – 04:30 PM Presentation 2 – Dr. Robert Carter - Visiting Professor in Arabian and Middle Eastern Archaeology, UCL Subject: The History and Archaeology of Pearl Fishing in Bahrain and the Gulf, 5500 BC to 1950 AD 04:30 PM – 05:00 PM Presentation 3 – Noura Al Sayeh – Head of Architectural Affairs, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities Subject: The History of the Pearling Trail 05:00 PM – 05:30 PM Presentation 4 – Dr. Mohamed Al Rumaidh – Researcher & Academic in Marine Biology & Ocean Science Subject: Investigations on the Pearl Oyster Resources of Bahraini Waters 05:30 PM – 06:00 PM Presentation 5 – Gina Latendresse – President, American Pearl Company Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee Subject: The Story of Natural Pearls from the Americas |
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6:00-6:15 |
Closing remarks – Layal Bushehri – Marketing & Communications Manager, Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) |
Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research |
|
6:30-7:30 |
An evening tour through Muharraq |
Muharraq, Bahrain |
|
7:30-8:00 |
A musical and artistic evening in the music hall |
Mohammed Bin Faris Music Hall |
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8:30-10:00 |
Traditional Bahraini dinner |
Darseen Cafe |
FRIDAY: November 15, 2019
Pearl Symposium Talk (DAY 2)
|
HOURS |
EVENT |
VENUE |
|
10:00-11:00 |
Opening panel talk with Mohammed Al Mahmood (Bahrain) and Adi Al Fardan (UAE) on pearls and the trade moderated by Kenneth Scarratt Keynote Address – Kenneth Scarratt – Managing Partner for ICA|GemLab, Bangkok Subject: The origins and modern trade usage of the term Keshi (“ケシ” - poppy seed) when used in connection with pearls or cultured pearls |
Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research |
|
11:00-11:30 |
Coffee Break |
|
|
11:30-1:00 |
Presentations by laboratory/industry experts 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Presentation 1 – Abeer Al Alawi – Executive Director, Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) Subject: Seed Pearl Challenges 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Presentation 2 – Nicholas Sturman - Identification Manager, GIA Bangkok Subject: Pearl Laboratory Notes 12:30 PM – 01:00 PM Presentation 3 – Dr. Hashim Al Sayed – Associate Professor of Biological Oceanography, University of Bahrain Subject: Pearl Oysters in Bahrain |
|
|
1:00-2:30 |
Traditional Bahraini lunch |
House of Coffee |
|
3:00-5:30 |
Presentations by laboratory/industry experts 02:30 PM – 03:00 PM Presentation 4 – Ali Al Atawi & Kenneth Scarratt Subject: A Recent Expedition to Acquire & Characterise Natural Pearls from Australian Pinctada maxima 03:00 PM – 03:30 PM Presentation 5 – Jean-Pierre Chalain – Deputy Director, Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) Subject: New Frontiers in Pearl Analysis: Age Dating, DNA Fingerprinting, and Novel Radiographic Methods 03:30 PM – 04:00 PM Presentation 6 – Dr. Stefanos Karampelas – Director of Research, Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) Subject: Pearl Species Determination: Possibilities and Limitations 04:00 PM – 04:30 PM Presentation 7 – Ali Safar – Natural Pearl Trader Subject: Trade in Bahraini Pearls 04:30 PM – 05:00 PM Presentation 8 – Rui Galopim de Carvalho – Founder, Portugal Gemas Academy Subject: A Review of Antique and Museum Pearls 05:00 PM – 05:30 PM Closing session and speakers' ceremony - Noora Jamsheer - CEO, Bahraini Institute for Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) |
Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research |
|
8:30-10:30 |
Eclectic fusion dinner |
Haus Restaurant and Lounge |