Long Term Objective:
The long term objective is to establish ongoing interactions and exchanges for the enhancement of research and the betterment of education in all areas of biotechnology and material science research and methodology through formal associations of the Research Triangle Universities with Poznan Higher Education Universities.The working collaboration will enable the exchange of research methods and experimental data, as well as established investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. Biannual conferences will be organized to provide a forum for discussion and to facilitate interaction among scientists in the common areas of interest in biotechnology and material science.
Conference Title and Objective:
Physico-Chemical methods in
Biotechnology and Material Science
Objective
The main objective of the June 2000 conference in Poznan, Poland is to exchange information in a common area of interest and research between North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University in the United States and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland. At the conference, the five major universities will share data and expertise in the use of physico-chemical methods in the research fields of Biotechnology, Physics, and Material Science.
Justification of Conference Topic:
The topic of using physico-chemical methods for modeling molecules to create an environment of intellectual exchange and a forum to share data and techniques. Many different groups are using a variety of approaches to understand how physico-chemical methods can be applied, expanded, and improved to determine structural and functional properties of molecules. The Symposium speakers will share their expertise in physico-chemical methods to a broad audiance of other researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students from Europe. The environment of the chosen venue guarantees a close interchange among the participants who will meet and discuss, and even eat and relax together. Thus, the Symposium would expand scientific collaboration, as well as relationships, among the investigators and set an example for the meetings that follow. It will also provide a setting that promotes dialogue between established investigators, young scientists, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
The Symposium of physico-chemical methods in biotechnology and material science will:
Promote communication and interactions in the important research area of physico-chemical methods in a focused and intimate manner not obtainable at regular society or other group meetings.
Provide an educational experience for young investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students (women and minorities) in a setting conducive to open discussions with access to established investigators who have broad experience in a variety of physico-chemical methods.
Stimulate inclusive discussion and the sharing of ideas and techniques by postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, as well as principal researchers.
Initiate international research collaborations and exchange of students and postdoctoral fellows.
Justification for the Poznan 2000 Conference:
Over the past decade, methods of physical chemistry have become an essential tool used in life and material sciences. A wide range of methods such as NMR, MS, X-ray, IR, EPR, vibrational and optical spectroscopies are being improved and applied. These methods provide for novel capabilities of predicting structures and properties and creating models for polymers, biopolymers such as proteins, RNA, DNA, and surfactants. For these compounds, structure determines function; therefore, analyzing structural properties provides clearer understanding of the intricacies of their method of functioning. Proper functioning of proteins, RNA, and DNA are central to the viability of all biological systems and thus, are important to agricultural, medical, and environmental research. This research has led to a variety of biotechnological applications. The new and exciting structures that are being discovered are revealing interesting, novel functional modes of macromolecular interactions that can be used as tools, as well as targets, to disrupt or promote function.
The International conference will bring together scientists from two disciplines, Biotechnology and Material Science, who are developing and applying a new generation of structure determination processes in USA and in Poland. The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan provides a unique environment for participants to discuss and exchange information on topics of common interest. The Institute has seven main laboratories that specialize in structural chemistry of nucleic acids, RNA chemistry and biochemistry, biocrystallographic research, plant molecular biology, DNA synthesis, tRNA biochemistry, and cancer genetics. There is also a state-of-the-art supercomputing center which will facilitate the exchange of and increase the speed of solving highly complex mathematical problems. All the facilities are no more than six years old, which will give the American investigators the opportunity to work with knowledgeable Polish researchers in an exceptional laboratory environment. Besides the technological strengths of the Institute, it also has the resources available to hold such a conference. On site lodging and dining accommodations will be provided, as well as a large conference facility for presentations and poster sessions.
The conference will create an environment of intellectual exchange and a forum to share data and techniques concerning physico-chemical methods in modeling of molecules. Many different groups are using a variety of approaches to understand how physico-chemical methods can be applied, expanded, and improved to determine structural and functional properties of molecules. This Symposium will bring together experts in physico-chemical methods from the US and Europe to discuss recent research in the field and to share their expertise to broaden the prospects of other researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. The environment of the chosen venue guarantees a close interchange among the participants to meet and discuss topics of interest. Thus, the Symposium would expand existing, well established scientific collaborations, as well as relationships among the investigators. It will also provide a setting that promotes dialogue between established investigators, young scientists, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students and facilitate a new avenue for young investigators to begin collaborative research efforts among the US an Polish universities.
Equivalent results (i.e. the communication, interaction, and education of young scientists) can not be achieved at other regular meetings of professional societies because these meetings traditionally do not schedule two days of presentations and discussions focused on the topic of physico-chemical methods in biotechnology and material science. In doing so, and by including physical, biochemical, molecular biological and cellular approaches, bacterial, animal, and plant research, with physico-chemical modeling methods in selecting the major speakers, a critical mass important to the program is achieved.
At present the conference includes 12 major speakers from Poland and 12 from the US. The inclusion of young researchers, women, and minorities, is important from an educational perspective, as well as for research communications. Education based on international contact and focused on modern topics strong in all the universities, and inclusion of YOUNG members of the research community are two of the Symposium objectives. One of the criteria for selection of presentations is the incorporation of women and young investigators. Students are often excluded from meetings due to over enrollment, and many times, when able to attend, they do not hear major talks from other promising young investigators. It is our intention to ensure student attendance and participation. The graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who will attend the meeting help in making the program run smoothly and become a focal point for the considerable numbers of students and postdoctoral fellows expected from the institutions in the future.
The Adam Mickiewicz University and the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry in Poznan are two of the best partners for international collaboration with the Triangle Universities. Both Polish universities have already proven to be valuable resources of researchers with unique expertise in the fields of Biotechnology and Material Science similar to those at the Triangle Universities. The group from Adam Mickiewicz University has a long standing collaboration already established with Keith Gubbin's group from North Carolina State University, and a previous successful collaboration with Cornell University. The Polish group contributes many scientists who are involved in performing experiments and carrying out some of the complicated mathematical calculations required in molecular modeling. Over the years, their broad and unique knowledge in the field of Material Science has proven to be indispensable to the success of the Gubbin's group. Similarly, the group of scientists from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences has proven their world wide expertise in the fields of Chemistry and Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids and has become a strong contributor to the development of these fields over the past 25 years. Young scientists from Poland have joined some of the most prestigious labs in the USA, Japan, and Europe in order to expand research and development.
Invites and conference advertisment:
The goal of the conference is to be open and inclusive to a wide variety of scientists and interested parties. Academic and private concerns, researchers and scientists from other nations will be informed by email, internet website and by regular mail about the conference itinerary, loging and applicable fees. Conference proceedings will be published in a supllement to (journal) and will be circulated to all interested parties.
Major Speakers:
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North Carolina State University |
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and the Adam Mickiewicz University |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and NC Business. |
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Stefan Franzen, Physical & Mathematical Sciences Chemistry, Phone: (919) 515-8915 Fax: (919) 515-8909 Email: Stefan_Franzen@ncsu.edu http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=412171 Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
Andrzej Legocki mailto:legocki@ibch.poznan.pl Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
Anna Astriab-Fisher mailto:Anna_Astriab@med.unc.edu Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
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Paul Agris http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=530100 Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
Ryszard Adamiak adamiakr@ibch.poznan.pl Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
Rychard Kole mailto:kole@med.unc.edu http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=333160 Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
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Hanna Gracz For short CV at Please click on CV Full Resume at: http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/chemistry/NMRgrach.html Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
Wojciech Markiewicz mailto:markwt@ibch.poznan.pl |
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Paul Wollenzien, mailto:wollenz@bchserver.bch.ncsu.edu http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=546478 |
Adam Kraszewski mailto:akad@ibch.poznan.pl |
Edward Samulski, Checking for Participation: |
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Keith Gubbins mailto:keg@ncsu.edu |
Jan Barciszewski mailto:jbarcisz@ibch.poznan.pl |
Barbara Ramsy-Shaw, Duke http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=543758 Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
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Jerry Bernholc http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=209880 |
Wlodzimierz Krzyzosiak mailto:wlodkrzy@ibch.poznan.pl Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
Wieslaw Kazimierski, Glaxo-Wellcome mailto:wmk35860@glaxowellcome.com |
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Dennis Brown, Professor/Department Head, Agriculture and Life Sciences Biochemistry Phone: (512) 515-5802 Fax: (512) 515-2047 mailto:dbrown@bchserver.bch.ncsu.edu http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=414564 |
Stefan Jurga, AMU mailto:stjurga@phys.amu.edu.pl |
Tom O'Connel, Glaxo-Wellcome mailto:tmo89509@glaxowellcome.com |
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Steve Lommel http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=209987 |
Malgorzata Sliwinska-Bartowiak, AMU mailto:msb@phys.amu.edu.pl |
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Cynthia Hemenway http://expertise.cos.com/cgi-bin/exp.cgi?id=536369 |
Tadeusz Hilczer, AMU mailto:hilczer@phys.amu.edu.pl |
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Zofia Gdaniec Please click on Abstract for current research information. |
The conference will include a wide variety of scientists from both the United States and Poland. Stephen Franzen, Paul Agris, Hanna Gracz, Steve Lommel, and Paul Wollenzein from North Carolina State University and Barbara Ramsey-Shaw from Duke University will be attending and presenting data concerning physico-chemical modeling as applied to Biotechnology. In the field of Material Science, Keith Gubbins and Jerry Bernholtz from North Carolina State University will also be discussing their applications. From the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Ryszard Adamiak will discuss the simulation of molecular dynamics of DNA, RNA, and its analogues. Also presenting will be Wojciech Markiewicz, Adam Kraszewski, Jan Barciszewski, and Wlodzimierz Krzyzosiak. The presenters from Adam Mickiewicz University discussing topics in Material Science will be Stefan Jurga, Malgorzata Sliwinska-Bartkowiak, and Tadeusz Hilczer.
For information go to: ITINERARY
Aso it would be good to include into the programe of such a visit talks with the authorities of the Academy and State Committee for Scientific Research.
For Information go to: CONFERENCE BUDGET
Funding Possibilities: The Biochemical Society, 59 Portland Place, London W1N 3AJ; Tel: 020 7580 5530; Fax: 020 7637 3626; http://www.biochemsoc.org.uk/admin/travfund.htm
The Glaxo Wellcome Foundation supports activities that help meet the educational and health needs of today's society and future generations. Focused primarily in North Carolina, the Foundation funds programs for the advancement of education, science, and health. http://www.glaxowellcome.com/