Editor’s note: Conventional Thinking is a feature that highlights a Lawrence business leader’s insights from a national convention or trade show. Anyone headed to a show or just back from one may contact Mark Fagan, business editor, by sending an e-mail to mfagan@ljworld.com or by calling 832-7188.

What: BIO 2006, the annual convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization

When: April 9-12

Where: Chicago

Who: Beth Johnson, vice president for economic development, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce

Why: Meet and mingle with 20,000 attendees, checking out the latest in bioscience companies, investment opportunities and areas competing with Lawrence for development.

What did you take away from the convention?

“Competition. This wasn’t just statewide; this was international. We’ve got to get in the game. We have some steps we need to take to position ourselves in the best arena to compete, in order to get the businesses. We need to develop a plan of action … that delineates what kinds of companies we want to go after.”

Q: Any revelations?

A: “I had no idea that depth of the bioscience industry: from plant science to animal science to human science to pharmaceuticals. … There were 1,800 exhibitors. The opportunities are there, but there also is a lot of competition.”

Q: Biggest innovation on the floor?

A: “There was a company growing corn in the expo center – growing corn, (800 insect-resistant biotech corn plants) inside. It was on a little plot, about as big as my office. It makes you stop and wonder about all the things these companies can do.”

Q: See anything that sparked any ideas?

A: Johnson said that the booth run by the city of Palm Beach, Fla., proved to be among the most popular stops on the floor, as representatives gave away free pairs of flip flops with the city’s name on them. “If that didn’t catch your attention and make you remember them, I don’t know what would. From a community-marketing standpoint? Smart.”

Johnson is asking for help devising Lawrence-themed giveaways, which might be distributed at economic-development trade shows or sent to business prospects.

“Something that says ‘us,’ that says ‘Lawrence.’ People would look at it and say, ‘Yeah, I got that from Lawrence, Kansas’ – something that’s obviously cost-effective. If it comes with 5,000 jobs, it’s definitely worth it.”

Send ideas to bjohnson @lawrencechamber.com.