Microbial Observatories: Workshop to Expand the Understanding of Modern Microbial Identification Technologies in Environmental Settings, Morocco, Spring 2003

辛辛那提大学土木与环境工程系的Daniel B. Oerther博士获得了一笔资助，在摩洛哥肯尼特拉的Ibn Tofail大学举办了一个由环境微生物学家、工程师和学生参加的国际研讨会。本次国际研讨会是2002年春季在NSF总部举办的研讨会（BES-0116929）的直接后续，该研讨会的目的是为美国研究人员探索在环境工程领域应用分子生物学工具的价值。摩洛哥讲习班的主题将是利用最先进的分子技术跟踪环境中的微生物。国际讲习班的具体目标包括：向青年研究人员传授最先进的技术；向潜在合作者转让技术；探索国际合作的机会，以便更好地解决摩洛哥环境卫生面临的地方问题以及环境微生物学方面的全球问题。大约10名专门从事环境微生物学的美国大学教师将访问摩洛哥，向潜在的国际合作者及其学生介绍他们的研究成果，并就检测环境中微生物的分子技术进行演讲。摩洛哥研讨会还将为来自美国的研究人员提供一个与国外同事互动和学习的机会。为期两天的国际研讨会将以讲座和讨论为基础，介绍由联合国教科文组织（UNESCO）主办的为期两周的实践培训课程。让美国的环境微生物学家参与这项更广泛的培训工作，表明美国承诺积极参与世界这一地区的技术转让和智力资本交换。这项努力的一个更广泛的影响是强调将环境微生物学的女性教师从美国带到摩洛哥。通过让女性参与这项国际努力，奥瑟博士还希望提高女性科学家在世界上一些女性在科学领域的榜样不太常见的地区的知名度。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Daniel B. Oerther of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Cincinnati to host an international workshop of environmental microbiologists, engineers and students at the University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco. This international workshop is a direct follow-up of a workshop held previously at NSF headquarters in the Spring of 2002 (BES-0116929), the purpose of which was for U.S. researchers to explore the value of applying molecular biological tools in the field of environmental engineering. The theme of the Morocco workshop will be using state-of-the-art molecular techniques to track microorganisms in the environment. The specific objectives of the international workshop include: teaching state-of-the-art technology to young researchers; transferring technology to potential collaborators; and exploring opportunities for international collaboration to better tackle local issues facing environmental health in Morocco as well as global issues in environmental microbiology. Approximately ten U.S. university faculty members specializing in environmental microbiology will visit Morocco, present their research results and give talks on molecular techniques for the detection of microorganisms in the environment to potential international collaborators and their students. The Morocco workshop will also provide researchers from the U.S. with an opportunity to interact with and learn from colleagues abroad. The 2-day international workshop will serve as a lecture and discussion-based introduction for a two-week hands-on training course sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Involving environmental microbiologists from the U.S. in this broader training effort demonstrates a commitment by the U.S. to be actively involved in technology transfer and the exchange of intellectual capital in this part of the world. One of the broader impacts of this effort is the emphasis on bringing female faculty in environmental microbiology from the U.S. to Morocco. By involving women in this international effort, Dr. Oerther also hopes to elevate the visibility of women scientists in parts of the world where role models for women in science are less common.