UQ hosts innovative eConference

The University of Queensland’s School of Biomedical Sciences will host a unique electronic conference this weekend.

Titled Biohorizons06, the "eConference" will give first-year UQ human biology students and the general public a challenging insight into the topical subject of junk DNA

The eConference is convened by Dr Roger Moni and Associate Professor Philip Poronnik from the School of Biomedical Sciences.

The conference is an innovative teaching method for first-year students aiming to engage them in a unique way and importantly, build extended international learning communities.

In addition, Year 12 biology students and their teachers from high schools around Brisbane have been invited to the opening of Biohorizons06 as a novel initiative to present contemporary science issues to school students.

Participants will be welcomed by Professor Mick McManus, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences at UQ.

The public lecture The Secrets of Our Genes will be presented by Professor John Mattick of the Institute for Molecular Biosciences and will be followed by a panel discussion with UQ academic staff and postgraduate students. Professor Mattick was last week awarded the prestigious Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science.

Dr Paul Willis, presenter from ABC’s Catalyst program will MC the event, which will be held at the UQ Centre on Saturday, September 2 from 10am to 12 noon, and is expected to attract up to 1000 people.

Media inquiries: Dr Roger Moni (3346 9865) or Associate Professor Philip Poronnik at the conference (0412 058 245).