SEAMEO-BIOTROP, in collaboration with the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) conducted a regional seminar-workshop on “Advances in Tropical Genomics: Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Biodiversity” on 20-21 December 2011, at IPB International Convention Center, Bogor and SEAMEO-BIOTROP campus.

The seminar-workshop was aimed to share knowledge on recently developed genomic approaches and bioinformatics for conservation and sustainable utilization of tropical biodiversity covering plants, animals and microorganisms.

This event comprised of a one-day seminar on 20 December and followed by one- day workshop on 21 December on various topics on genomics approaches. To complete the event and give participants an experience with bioinformatics, a one-day pre-seminar training course on “Basic operation of NGS data” was also held at the IPB Computer Center Building. Further information can be accessed at  http://regionalseminar.event.ipb.ac.id and http://www.biotrop.org.

In his welcome remarks during the opening ceremony, SEAMEO BIOTROP Director Dr. Bambang Purwantara emphasized the importance of the seminar-workshop in enhancing the visibility of SEAMEO-BIOTROP in promoting and generating interest among the participants on genomics approach and bioinformatics towards conservation and sustainable utilization of tropical biodiversity in SEA. 

On the other hand, Dr. Anas D. Susila, IPB’s Vice Rector for Research and Collaboration, officially declared open the event on behalf of IPB Rector.  He pointed out the role of bioscience in strengthening strategic research for development in Indonesia and other SEA countries, as well as the importance of collaboration among institutions in conducting in the genomics research considering its high cost. 

Prof. Dr. Iskandar Z. Siregar, IPB’s Director of Research & Strategic Issue Studies gave the overview of the seminar-workshop and introduced the speakers and institution-affiliation of the participants.

The keynote speech was delivered by Prof. Dr. Wickneswari Ratnamfrom University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), who was also representing the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).  Dr. Ratnam discussed about “Exploring Genomics Approaches in Conservation and Improvement of Tropical Forest Species: The Challenging Roles of a National Genome Centre”.

 The one-day seminar served as a forum for information exchange and knowledge sharing among participants, where various aspects of recent genomics research conducted both in the region and develop countries were discussed.  All topics presented dealt with comparative genomics, systematics and evolutions, metagenomic analysis, functional genomics, application of genomics in improvement and breeding program, bioinformatics etc. The seminar activity consisted of both oral and poster presentations. A total of 15 oral presentations were organized in plenary and sub-plenary parallel sessions. Meanwhile about 25 posters were displayed for viewing during that day.

Plenary speakers included Dr. Kazuyuki Doi (Nagoya University), and Dr. Junya Yamagishi (Obihiro University) as deployed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan; Prof. Dr. Suharsono (IPB), Indonesia; and Dr. Bahagiawati A.H., Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development (BB BIOGEN), Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia.

At the end of the seminar  discussion on the establishment of a network of genomics researchers in Indonesia to strengthen the collaboration among relevant government research institutions engaged in genomics research was facilitated by Dr. Jess Fernandez, Deputy Director for Program of SEAMEO-BIOTROP.

About 90 participants coming from various universities; research centers belonging to Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Fishery, and Ministry Research and Technology and Indonesian Academy of Sciences; industries and molecular biology companies attended the event.
 
The one day workshop, on the other hand, enabled the participants to learn the recent methodologies and protocols on how genomics and bioinformatics could aid in tackling their research problems, set new perspectives and directions in their research. A total of 10 papers on methodologies in genomics and bioinformatics research were also presented.  The workshop also provided the participants the opportunity to discuss the possibility of forming a collaborative strategic plan in genomics and bioinformatics research in the region.

Click here to download pictures during pre-seminar training course, seminar and workshop