[BiO BB] African Virtual Conference on Bioinformatics (Afbix '09)

[J.W. Bizzaro]

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           African Virtual Conference on Bioinformatics (Afbix '09)

                              February 19-20, 2009

                          Online at Bioinformatics.Org

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TARGET AUDIENCE:
Graduate students and researchers in computational biology, molecular biology and medicine.  The conference theme is "Tropical Bioinformatics."  While most of the presenters are either in Africa or studying African species, attendance is open to everyone.

MOTIVATION:
In addition to research on tropical diseases, pathogenesis and their vectors, the field of bioinformatics has become an important part of life science studies in Africa.  But, with the great geographical expanse of the continent, it is often impractical or uneconomical for African researchers to come together for conferences.  That is, in person.  The Bioinformatics Organization (Bioinformatics.Org) has therefore collaborated with Regional Student Groups (RSGs) in Africa to develop a bioinformatics conference that utilizes local institutions in Africa as "virtual hubs."

Participating African RSGs and the hub institutions:

- RSG East Africa (ILRI) 
- RSG East Africa (ICIPE) 
- RSG South Africa (SANBI) 
- RSG Morocco (SMBI) 
- RSG West Africa (Covenant University, Ota) 

Other hub institutions:

- Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA

VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE:
Individual registrations cost only $10-30, depending on location.  Please see the conference description page (URL below).

PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE:
For more information about attending this conference via one of the aforementioned hubs, please contact afbixx at gmail.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please visit the conference description page: http://wiki.bioinformatics.org/Afbix09