We do no longer accept applications for sponsorships to the 2008 course. Self-financed participants can register on this form.

Date: 28 July – 08 August 2008
Venue: Science Park/University of Tromsø, Norway

Topics include:
• Holistic overview of genetics, genes and gene expression
• Hazard identification and molecular characterisation
• Critical evaluation of characterisation and profiling tools
• Sampling dynamics
• Risk assessment case studies
• Practical sessions in writing a risk evaluation that meets the Cartagena Protocol requirements
• Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from GMOs
• Various application areas for genetic engineering
• Various risk areas connected to GE applications/GMOs
• Economic and legal aspects of GE applications/GMOs
• Socio-cultural, ethical, and political issues in GE applications/GMOs
• Policy and regulatory issues, including capacity building and biosafety implementation
• Future and emerging GE applications
• Gene ecology and alternatives to GE/GMO applications


Background
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety seeks to protect human health (including food safety) and biodiversity from the potential risks created by the use and dissemination of living “Genetically Modified Organisms” (GMOs), while taking into account socio-economic considerations. Implementation of biosafety regulation is therefore the focus of many countries to establish such safeguards. However, the process of implementing the Protocol has unveiled a limited capacity for science-based hazard identification that is necessary to perform risk assessments, including a holistic understanding of the policy, legal, regulatory, ethical, economic and social dimensions, which is also lacking in many cases.

Performing credible and relevant biological risk assessments requires multi-disciplinary scientific and social scientific competence that considers the local context of GMO introductions. Each country requires the capacity for general scientific risk assessment and management, tailored to their particular environmental, health, and community needs. Moreover, there is a need to assess GMOs developed domestically, or imported purposely or accidentally from others, into the context of their special cultural, ethical, socio-economic and policy frameworks. Such initiatives will require holistic approaches to develop adequate integration of diverse issues in the regulation of GMOs.

About the course
The course is designed to provide policy makers, regulators, scientists and NGOs/civil society leaders, specifically from developing countries (ODA-countries), the knowledge and training necessary to develop a holistic view on the issues surrounding GMOs. The goal is to empower the participants with balanced information on GMOs, in order to fairly, yet critically, evaluate the issue from their own perspective and country needs. Lectures, laboratory demonstrations, group work on case studies and discussions will form the basis of the course, which aims to offer biosafety capacity building within a holistic framework. Participants will also be required to submit a GE/GMO/biosafety country report in order to more broadly share their local experiences of the current status of GMOs/biosafety with other participants.

Eligibility and selection process
The course application form must be filled out entirely and with as much detail as possible. The applicant must provide information about the type/level of position they are holding, and state the basis for their interest in the course. In addition, a brief CV is required for consideration.

The working language of the course will be English only, and as such, applicants should be able to work sufficiently well in English in both oral and written communications.

Preference will be given to applicants from developing (ODA) countries. Gender, occupation and regional criteria are also used in the selection of participants in order to achieve representational balance. The selection committee usually completes the selection by 1 May.

Applications are due by 1 April 2008.

Costs and expenses
Full sponsorship will be offered to 40 selected applicants from developing (ODA) countries. The sponsorship will cover curricular materials, course-associated travel, visa-fees, accommodation and meals.

The course has additional 15 places available to participants from all countries that are able to secure their own sponsorship/funding. The course fee of $1200 USD includes curricular materials, lunch (13 days), opening/farewell ceremony, local transport and social activities. In addition, self-financing participants will also have to pay for their travel and accommodation (hotel NOK 875/night (approx. US $160) incl. breakfast and dinner buffet). Applications for self-financed places should be submitted by 10 June 2008. The places are allocated on a first come first served basis. Participants must be prepared to pay course fee when registering.

How to apply:

We do no longer accept applications for the 2008 course.

Contact information:
Project Manager Katrine Jaklin
E-mail: katrine.jaklin@genok.org
Phone: +47 77 64 55 46
Fax: +47 77 64 61 00
Web: www.genok.org

Further information about ODA-countries: www.oecd.org/dac/stats/daclist