Conferences

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The Humboldt Kolleg Conference will be held between 17th- 20th July 2012.

Humboldt Kolleg Conference Abstracts

"The Future of Biodiversity Research in Africa: Scope, Opportunities, Collaboration, Access and Sharing Benefits."

Background

Tropical and sub-tropical environments house most of the world’s biodiversity. Africa is a continent that is rich in biodiversity and Kenya in particular is world renowned for its rich flora and fauna. The enormous socio-cultural, scientific, biomedical, agricultural, industrial and economic potential benefits inherent in biological resources for national and international development are well recognized. However, these resources are steadily becoming prone to the danger of serious decline, and in certain instances extinction, owing to an array of threats including unsustainable economic activities, natural disasters and climate change. Despite the obvious importance of biodiversity to the economic and environmental wellbeing of Africa, indeed the world, there is no reliable data on biodiversity. In Kenya for example, the last survey on biodiversity in Kenya was conducted in 1992 and was not comprehensive. The lack of data hampers decision making with regard to conservation and management of biodiversity. Previously, information was also skewed towards higher plants and animals, with little or no focus on microorganisms and viruses. Remarkably little has been published on the numerous and often crucial ways in which fungi and bacteria influence tropical forest ecosystems. The few research and field observations relating the microbiota to ecosystem-level processes in tropical forests have often been of a preliminary nature, and studies of how microbial diversity per se affects ecosystem functioning are practically nonexistent. Also it is widely accepted that lack of taxonomic and scientific expertise, hinders ability to make informed decisions about conservation, sustainable use and sharing of the benefits derived from genetic resources.

It is with this in mind that we propose to organize a Humboldt Kolleg in Kenya to include scientists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. The topic is broad enough to accommodate Biologists, Chemists, Physicists (Biophysicists), Biochemists, Biostaticians, Bioinformaticians, Ecologists, Microbiologists. The Kolleg will target about 50 people including AvH alumni, DAAD alumni, KAAD Alumni, GIZ alumni and young scientists who are potential AvH candidates. The Kolleg will also bring in some policy makers e.g. National Council for Science and Technology (NCT), Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forestry service, Kenya Agricultural Institute, National Museums of Kenya, International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and other research Institutes which work on biology/Agriculture /biomedical research. We would like to use the opportunity to advance the idea of establishment of a Biological Resource Centre (along the lines of DSMZ http://www.dsmz.de) and also promote a Bioscience Policy for Kenya which is being developed together with the National Council for Science and Technology. We have been pursuing this with the DSMZ and would like to make further advances. The opportunity will also be used to discuss issue of the Nagoya Protocol of Access and benefit sharing and how research on Biological Sciences in the tropics can progress in the new framework. Lately, access to research materials has been a challenge for scientists working in collaborative projects with external partners.

1. Objectives of the meeting

   1. To bring together key researchers and stakeholders engaged in biodiversity research and management in the region.

   2. To develop and explore possibilities for funding and management of Biodiversity Research.

   3. To showcase and learn from biodiversity research in Germany and South Africa.

   4. To promote basic and applied research involving biodiversity

   5. To promote the activities of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation to young researchers

   6. To introduce researchers and stakeholders to the Nagoya protocol on access and benefit sharing.

   7. To strengthen the activities of the AvH Alumni Association in Kenya.

   8. To strengthen collaboration between AvH Alumni and DAAD Alumni.

2. Topics to be discussed

1. Legislation on Biodiversity Research and Management

• National legislation
• International Legislation
• Biosecurity and dual Use issues
• Intellectual Property laws and the ABS treaty

2. Modern Approaches to Biodiversity Research

Basic

Applied

Plant

Animal

Viruses/Phages

3. The Interface between ICT, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Biological Systems
4. Bioprospecting: Opportunities and Limitations
5. In situ and ex-situ conservation of biodiversity
6. Biology Education: Biology curriculum and pedagogy
7. Biodiversity and Society/Culture

German participation

Prof. Dr Jorg Overmann, (Microbial Ecology, Director, DSMZ) (Confirmed)

Prof. Dr Andreas Brune, (Microbial Ecology, MPI-Marburg)(Confirmed)

Prof. Dr. Roland Brandl, (Zoology, Marburg)(Confirmed)

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Stingl, (King Abdalla University of Science and Technology, Saud Arabia, Confirmed)

At least 20 DAAD Scholars to be invited (to be sponsored by DAAD)

All AvH Alumni in Kenya, 3 from Tanzania and 3 from Ethiopia will be invited (to be sponsored by AvH).

Proposed Dates: 17^th to 20^th July 2012

Venue: Voi Town. For our International Participants we advise them to book their flights early. Lufthansa/Ethiopian Airline flies direct into Mombasa. Precision air from Dar es Salaam also flies into Mombasa. The exact Hotel will be communicated. Voi is located 2 h away from Mombasa and 4 h from Nairobi.

Abstract

Those who would wish to make oral presentations are invited to submit a two page abstract by 31^st May 2012. The title of the abstract should be Arial font 12 and Bold. This should be followed by the Names and contacts/Institutional affiliations of the Authors, font size 10, New Times Roman, italicized. The main body of the abstract including a reference list of not more than 5 should not be less than 1 page and not more than 2 pages and be written using New Times Roman font size 12. This will be used to publish a book of abstracts. The topics should address the conference objectives and should fit within the thematic areas listed above. Those, whose abstracts would have been accepted, will be notified by 30 June 2012.

NB: Abstracts can also be submitted for poster presentation.

More information to follow

Conference Organizer

Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga
Humboldt Ambassador Scientist
Taita Taveta University College
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+254733926733
+254720483136

Secretariat

Habib Mohammed Mruttu
Taita Taveta University College
P.O. Box 635-80300
+254724505128
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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