Report on Science Academies’ lecture workshop on Bioinformatics.
Indian Women Scientists’ Association (IWSA) conducted a two-day workshop on “Bioinformatics’ in collaboration with KarmaveerBhauraoPatil College (KBP) in Vashi, Navi Mumbai on 6th and 7th of February, 2016. The workshop was sponsored by the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, Indian National Science Academy and National Academy of Sciences, India.
Fifty-three participants were selected from 110 applicants – most of whom were students with a background in life sciences from different colleges in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The program was held at IWSA on 6th February and at KBP College on 7th February and the participants had opportunity to have hands on experience on bioinformatics both at IWSA and KBP College; besides lectures by eminent scientists.
The inauguration of the workshop was held at ICICI Multipurpose Hall of IWSA on 6th February morning. Dr. Devaki Ramanathan, President, IWSA welcomed the participants and spoke about the various activities of IWSA. Dr. A. P. Thakare, Vice principal of KBP College gave a brief introduction of RayatSikshanSanstha of KBP college. Dr.TaralaNandedkar, Convener of the workshop gave an overview of the different educational programs by the Science Academies. Dr. Rita Mukhopadhyay, Co-ordinator of the workshop gave the outline of the lectures and practical sessions. Dr. K. V. R. Chary, Department of Chemical Sciences, Mumbai delivered the keynote address and spoke on NMR Spectroscopy and the use of bioinformatics for interpretation of NMR data and structure determination. Dr. Surekha Zingde, Vice President, IWSA acknolwledged the participation of the resource persons, the students and all those who have helped in the organization of the program.
The workshop had four sessions on the use of bioinformatics for X-ray crystallography, mass spectroscopy for protein identification and structure determination, gene sequences to application and application of protein sequences to functional analysis. The resource persons included Dr.Ashok Varma, Dr. RukminiGovekar, Dr, GeetanjaliSachdeva and Dr. Rita Mukhopadhyay.
On the first day, a two hour hands on session was held at the Computer Centre, IWSA and on the second day at KBP College. Each participant used personal terminals to design primers and for multiple sequence alignment. The participants also learnt down loading protein sequences, matching sequences and structure determination.
The valedictory function was held at KBP College and Dr. A. P. Thakare, Vice Principal of KBP College presided over the function. There was a feed-back session and students expressed their satisfaction in the course and expressed the desire for more such courses.
IWSA and KBP College express their thanks to the three Science Academies for supporting the workshop.
