A  joint workshop with "3e cycle romand en sciences biologiques"

The plant cell wall has for a long time been viewed as an inanimate rigid box, but it is now clear that it plays important roles in controlling the differentiation of the cells during embryogenesis and growth. Plant cells are surrounded by a polysaccharide cell wall which connects them into tissues, signals them to grow and divide, and controls the shape of plant organs. In addition, the plant cell wall has an important role as a source of biologically active molecules, as a barrier to plant pathogens, and as a source of biofuels and serves as the raw material for the manufacturing of textiles, paper, lumber, films, thickeners and other products. The plant cell wall is also the primary source of cellulose, the most abundant and useful biopolymer on the Earth.

Topics addressing the many different roles of the plant cell wall will be presented by leading experts in the field. Students will be given the opportunity to consult and discuss with these experts. Since many disciplines of plant biology will be represented, we expect a stimulating exchange and novel collaborations.

The following thematic will be addressed:

1. Plant cell wall synthesis and vascular tissue development:

• Staffan Persson, Max Planck Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Golm, Germany

2. Wall integrity sensing:

• Hermann Höfte, Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique  Versailles, France

3. Physiological and molecular control of wood formation:

• Björn Sundberg, Umea Plant Science Center, Umea, Sweden

4. Cell walls in biotechnology and industry :

• Tanja Zimmermann, EMPA Dübendorf, Switzerland

5. Cell walls and disease resistance :

• Ralph Hückelhoven, Technische Universität München, Germany 

6. Developmental patterning by mechanical signals:

• Jan Traas, Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS-Lyon), Lyon, France

• Brigitte Mauch-Mani, University of Neuchatel
• Pia Stieger, University of Neuchatel

Dates:  3 September 2009

Schedule (preliminary): 8.55 - 17.00

Location: Université de Neuchâtel, Faculté des sciences, UniMail, aula Louis-Guillaume

Credit points: 0.5 credit point (Scientific)

Evaluation: Active participation

Information: Please contact the organiser Dr. Brigitte Mauch-Mani or the doctoral program coordinator Dr. Christiane Bobillier.

Travel expenses: Ph.D. students of the 3e cycle romand are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses on the basis of the price of public transportation (train ticket, half-fare card, and 2nd class). Please fill in the 3e cycle romand and send it with original tickets to Mrs Christiane Bettinelli (Université de Neuchâtel, Institut de biologie,  Emile-Argand 11, Case postale 158, 2009 Neuchâtel) not later than 9 September 2009. No reimbursement will be made past this date.

If you are not a Ph.D. students of the 3e cycle romand but are a participants of the" Interuniversity Doctoral Program in Organismal Biology" you are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses on the basis of the price of public transportation (train ticket, half-fare card, and 2nd class). Please fill in this  Doctoral Programme reimbursement form and send it with original tickets to Dr Christiane Bobillier, not later than 9 September 2009.

Reimbursement of travel expenses of post-docs and senior scientists of 3e cycle romand is NOT guaranteed (depending on budget). 

Registration through the web only: closed

Deadline: 15 August 2009