A joint workshop with CUSO Doctoral Program in Molecular Plant Sciences

Organizers: Christian Fankhauser (University of Lausanne) & Roman Ulm (University of Geneva)

Plant development is extremely plastic and heavily depends on the environmental conditions. Among those, light plays a special role as it acts both as a source of energy via the process of photosynthesis and a source of information sensed by multiple classes of photoreceptors.

During this workshop the students will learn about the wide range of responses triggered in plants by changes in their light environment. The molecular mechanisms underlying these physiological changes will also be covered.

Students will also present their own research as a poster.

• Carlos Ballaré , University of Buenos Aires, IFEVA, Argentina - Light regulation of plant immune responses
• Roberto Bassi , University of Verona, Italy - High light stress responses in plants
• John Christie , University of Glasgow, U.K. -  Blue light photoreceptors, what have we learned about phototropism since Charles Darwin
• Keara Franklin , University of Bristol, U.K. -  Role of the phytochrome photoreceptors in the competition of plants for light
• Ute Hoecker , University of Koeln, Germany - The dark side of photomorphogenesis, function and regulation of negative regulators of plant light responses
• Gareth Jenkins , University of Glasgow, U.K. - UV-B responses in plants, how do plants know when to apply sunscreen?

Each speaker will first give an introductory lecture to bring the students up to speed and then a more specialized research seminar.

There will be poster session in frame of the workshop where PhD students present their own research.

Program (updated 18.08.11).

Dates :  Thursday 25 and Friday 26 August 2011

Schedule : 8.55 - 17.00

Location : University of Neuchâtel, Faculté des sciences, UniMail, building F , Auditoire Louis-Guillaume

Credit points : 1.5 credit points (with poster presentation), 1.0 CP (attendance only) (Scientific activity) 

Evaluation : Full attendance, active participation during the 2 days

Information : Please contact the scientific organizers Christian Fankhauser or Roman Ulm or the doctoral program coordinator Christiane Bobillier (administration)

Registration fee :

• Free for PhD students registered in the CUSO doctoral programs or PhD students who are not members of a CUSO University registered in the Interuniversity doctoral program in organismal biology.
• For ALL other participants, the registration cost is CHF 50.00 (includes 4 coffee breaks and 2 lunches).

Travel expenses : participants of the  Interuniversity doctoral program in organismal biology (University of Neuchâtel) and CUSO doctoral programme in Molecular Plant Science are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, and 2nd class).

• For "Interuniversity doctoral program in organismal biology" participants: Please send the original tickets (no copies, except for the general abonnement) with the reimbursement form  to Dr. Christiane Bobillier.  No reimbursement for bus, taxi or car travel expenses will be paid.
• For  "CUSO doctoral programme in Molecular Plant Science" participants: see information on the web site.

MAKE SURE YOU SIGN the ATTENDANCE LIST EACH DAY of the WORKSHOP
and
TAKE the ATTESTATION of ATTENDANCE at the END of the WORKSHOP
(no attestation will be sent by mail)

• This workshop is opened to all Ph.D. students.
• Registration priority for CUSO MPS and Organismal biology until end of April 2011.
• Post-docs and master students are welcome as long as places are available.
• Maximum number of participants: 30 CUSO PhD students and 20 other participants (with registration fee).

Registration: closed

Please note the cancellation policy (CHF 20) .

Deadline: 11 August 2011