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Workshop on Chemical ecology as a driver for bioprospecting and blue technology Ischia, Italy, from 29 to 31 October 2008

Organizers Adrianna Ianora and Angelo Fontana

This workshop would bring researchers together, not only from the MarBEF community, with the view of positioning themselves for future projects on the subject of Chemical ecology as a driver for bioprospecting and blue technology. The results of this workshop would be to generate a position paper to address the European Marine and Maritime Science, Research, Technology and Innovation Strategy outlined by the Commission in its recently published "Blue Paper". This workshop will be held in Ischia at the Benthic Ecology Laboratory of the Stazione Zoologica and will be hosted by Adrianna Ianora and Angelo Fontana.

Check for more information on the MarBEF events calendar.

Workshop on Chemical Ecology of Plankton, 2-4 July 2008 in Juodkrante, Lithuania

Organizers: Adrianna Ianora and Arturas Razinkovas

The participants of this workshop all share an interest in the role of secondary metabolites as important defenses against predators, competitors and pathogens. To date, tens of thousands of these metabolites have been described from marine protists and benthic and pelagic meso- and macro-invertebrates. Most of these compounds have been isolated from benthic organisms, however, and the chemical ecology of plankton has been largely uncharted. The aim of this workshop is therefore to compare secondary metabolites from planktonic microbes to micro-algae and mesozooplankton in terms of structure, [function], and biosynthetic pathways. Compounds with different biological activities, from those with feeding deterrent properties, to those that induce developmental arrest and growth reduction, or toxicity and death, will be compared with the aim of writing a position paper on the “state of the art” of chemical ecology in the plankton.

Since we will be together for only 3 days, we will try to optimize the time we have together and make only short presentations of the work we are involved in before breaking up in working groups that will prepare a first draft of the paper.

2nd Training Course of Chemical Methods in Marine Ecology, 9-12 September 2008

The 2nd Training Course on Chemical Methods in Marine Ecology deals with the chemical aspects related to identification, origin and function of low-molecular-weight metabolites involved in ecological interactions in marine communities. In particular, the meeting programme concerns investigations of secondary metabolites and their functional roles in mediating reproductive processes, prey-predator interactions, and competition. In this frame, lectures and demonstrations embrace theoretical aspects and practical analysis by techniques that are largely employed for terrestrial counterparts. The course is intended to have highly specialized lectures in the morning and practical classes in the afternoon.

Download flyer.

This year’s programme is focused on the study of plankton interactions by techniques related to:

• molecular biology
• biosynthesis
• mass spectrometry

Contact Person: Angelo Fontana, CNR-Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli - Naples, Italy; e-mail:afontana@icb.cnr.it; tel +39 0818675096.

Expected audience: not more than 15 students.

The registration form can be download from: http://www.marbef.org/documents/Events/rosemeb_registrationform.doc

Deadline for on-line registration: July 15th, 2008.

Location: CNR - Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano Napoli, Italy.

MarBEF/ROSEMEB training course on Chemical Methods in Marine Ecology, 12-15 September 2007

We are pleased to announce that a Training Course on “Chemical methods in marine ecology” will be held in Naples (Italy) from 12–15 September, 2007. The classes will host traditional and emerging subjects of marine ecology, with the focus of modern chemical methods currently used to study inter- and intra-specific interactions mediated by secondary metabolites in benthic and planktonic communities. Registration deadline is 30 June 2007. Read more Download: flyer programme

MarBEF/ROSEMEB training course on Bioassay Methods in Marine Chemical Ecology, 9-14 September 2006

Presentation at MarBEF General Assembly, Lecce 9-11 May 2006

Download presentation.

PhD position on chemical ecology

A PhD position on chemical ecology is available at the Stazione Zoologica in Naples, Italy, to study diatom-copepod interactions through the study of lipoxygenase activity in diatoms. The deadline for applications is 20 September. Read more at: http://www.szn.it/open2006/open2006.htm.