-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
COURSE IN SWITZERLAND
Certificate of Advanced Studies in Biosafety and Plant Genetic Resources Management
January to November 2008
------------------
Application deadline : closed
Certificate
leaflet (pdf)
Application
Form (word)
Presentation
Plant genetic resources (PGR) are the core
material from which farmers since the Neolitihic revolution have progressively
selected and improved the multitude of crop varieties on which we rely
today. Much more recently, molecular biologists have developed what is
known as green biotechnology, a wide array of technical tools. Among
these tools, genetic engineering directly modifies DNA sequences to create
genetically modified plants. However, the diversity of plant genetic
resources is nowadays threatened by various factors and urgently requires
specific management and conservation strategies.
Unique in Europe, this interdisciplinary training provides full theoretical
and practical skills in biosafety and plant genetic resources (PGR) management.
The training is enriched by the contribution of worldwide specialist (molecular
biologist, sociologist, economist, lawyer, and philosopher). Lectures will
cover technical, legal and socio-economic aspects, including:
1) Biosafety – the wide range of instruments
(legal, political, administrative, biological and agronomical) aimed
at providing the right level of protection against the possible risks
to the environment and human health arising from the production, use,
transport and transformation of genetically modified organisms
2) Access to PGR, including issues related to intellectual property rights
and benefit sharing
3) PGR management and conservation of crop diversity
Objectives
• to develop an interdisciplinary approach
to biosafety and plant genetic resources management (PGR)
• to give a synthesis of the
most recent scientific knowledge in the field of green biotechnology
and biosafety
• to understand the various practices
of selection developed by small farmers as well as formal agronomic
research, and their impact on plant crop diversity
• to identify technical and economic challenges related to the conservation
of PGR
• to analyse plant biodiversity conservation and management from a
North-South perspective
• to study legal systems, both national and international, that aim to
preserve biodiversity, guarantee food security and promote biosafety regulation
• to provide a comprehensive view of socio-economic and ethical issues
related to the use of genetically modified organisms and PGR
Target Audience
Professionals from the public/private sector and representatives from non-profit
organizations – e.g. scientists, industrialists, legal practitioners,
technicians, project managers – with a particular interest in biosafety
and/or PGR management. Advanced students can also apply.
A LIMITED AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE FROM AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA AND ASIA
The scholarship consists in an exemption of the tuition fees. Participants from abroad can either choose to follow the course online (through an e-learning platform, which allows a full "distance curriculum") or come to Geneva/Lausanne to be physically present during the course (or part of it). In this last case, please note that the scholarship provided does not cover any travel/subsistence expenses while in Switzerland.
To apply
for a scholarship, send your application form (with cover letter and
CV) to jonathan.kissling@iued-unige.ch and
mention that you apply for a scholarship. You will be informed of the
Selection Committee's decision by December 15.
Steering Committe
Direction
Prof. J.-D. ROCHAIX, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, director
Mirko SAAM, RIBios - Biosafety Interdisciplinary Network, co-director
Members
Alain KAUFMANN, Interface sciences-société, University of Lausanne
Dr Pia MALNOË, Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil
Prof. Anne PETITPIERRE, Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
Dr Anne-Gabrielle WUST-SAUCY, Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
Dr Marc-Antoine FOURNIER, Graduate Institute of Development Studies (IUED)
and Swissaid
Partners
• Federal Office for the Environment - FOEN
• Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil
• Faculty of Law, University of Geneva
• Interface sciences-société, University of Lausanne
Language
Most of the courses will be held in English and a few in
French. The documentation will be provided in English
Educational approach
• Interdisciplinary:
the contributions of specialists coming from various fields allow participants
to get an overview of critical biosafety and PGR management issues
• Flexible: an e-learning platform offers the opportunity
of gaining the certificate by distance learning
Interactive: workshops, debates/roundtables and exchange of experiences are
included in the curriculum
• Concrete: the experiences and knowledge shared by a diverse
array of lecturers and professionals allow participants to discover the “everyday” practice
of biosafety and PGR management
Duration
The whole Certificate will last eleven months (January
to November 2008), with the first six month (January to June 2008) dedicated
to the courses and the last five months (July to November 2008) to the thesis
work. This is a part-time programme, totalling 576 hours, comprising 168 hours
of courses, 228 hours of personal work and 180 hours for the thesis work.
Features
The course curriculum features nine modules and a thesis
work. Each module consists of thematic lectures and discussions and lasts two
to three days. An e-learning platform allows students to participate in the
courses at home.
A five-onths period – from July to November 2008 – is dedicated
to the thesis work preparation.
Programme
---------------
Unit 1 Scientific and technical aspects
---------------
Module 1: Introduction to biotechnology and plant genetic resources, January
10-11, 2008
This module gives a scientific introduction to
biotechnology and genetic engineering especially. The participant will
be able to deal with e.g. transgenesis, cloning, tissues cultures,
methods. The main issues related to plant genetic resources will be
investigated as well.
Dr Pia Malnoë, Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil and Barbara Bordogna
Petriccione, RIBios – Biosafety Interdisciplinary Network
Module 2: Risks related to
GMOs and preservation of agrobiodiversity, January 24-25, 2008
Risk assessment methods and risks arising from genetic
engineering in food and agriculture will be addressed in the first part of
this module. The second part will focus on threats to animal and plant biodiversity
as well as the main strategies for biodiversity conservation.
Dr Angelika Hilbeck, GMO Environmental Risk Assessment project
Module 3: Biotechnology applications and tools for studying and preserving
PGR,
February 21-22-23, 2008
Cases of biotechnology applications in the fields of agriculture,
pharmaceutics and industry will be described, while the majors tools used to
study and conserve plant biodiversity will be examined.
Mirko SAAM and Jonathan KISSLING, RIBios – Biosafety Interdisciplinary
Network
Discovery-Day 1 GMO detection workshop March 7, 2008
---------------
Unit 2 Legal and institutional aspects
---------------
Module 4: International regulations related to biodiversity, biosafety and
PGR, March 13-14, 2008
This module deals with legal aspects of biosafety
and biodiversity management, especially international legal agreements
such as the Convention on Biodiversity, the Cartagena Protocol and
the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(ITPGRFA). Commercial treaties with direct relevance to biosafety and
biodiversity such as the WTO’s SPS and TBT will also be studied.
Dr François PYTHOUD, Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture
Module 5: National regulatory
frameworks (Swiss, European, American), April 3-4, 2008
This module will focus on comparative study of
national and regional regulatory frameworks (Swiss, European, and American)
in the field of biosafety and biodiversity.
Dr Anne-Gabrielle WUST-SAUCY, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
Module 6: Access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, intellectual property
rights and liability
April 17-18, 2008
Issues related to intellectual property rights on living
material and access to genetic resources and benefit sharing will be considered
in this module. Furthermore, the specific problem of liability and redress
in connection with GMOs will be presented.
Dr Susette BIBER-KLEMM, University of Basel
---------------
Unit 3 Socio-economic and ethical aspects
---------------
Module 7: Socio-economic aspects of biotechnology and plant genetic resource,
May 8-9, 2008
Biotechnologies and seed production markets as
well as their production process will be analyzed. A focus on production,
selection and conservation of seed at farmer and industrial level will
be made.
Ezra RICCI, Lullier School of Engineering
Module 8: Impact of biotechnologies on ethics (precautionary principle, world
vision)
and ethical standpoint on biodiversity, May 29-30, 2008
Precautionary principle, patents on living material,
intrinsic value of biodiversity, ethics of research practices and the
point of view of various religious traditions will be examined from
an ethical perspective.
Dr Andrea ZANINETTI and Dr Mark HUNYADI, RIBios – Biosafety
Interdisciplinary Network
Module 9: Interdisciplinary
approach of risk and expertise – Public participation in science
and technology
June 19-20, 2008
Starting from a critical approach of classical risk assessment
and management, this module will explore the role of expertise and public participation
in designing a more democratic governance for emerging technologies such as
biotechnologies.
Alain KAUFMANN, Interface sciences-société, University
of Lausanne
Discovery-day 2 Station Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil, Valais June 2008
Application
Application
form, CV and a cover letter should be submitted before
October 31, 2007 to:
Jonathan KISSLING
RIBios – Biosafety Interdisciplinary Network
C/o IUED, Rue Rothschild 20 – 1211 Geneva 21
Tel: + 41 (0)22 906 59 75
E-mail: jonathan.kissling@iued.unige.ch
Admission
Candidates will be selected on the basis of their application file, taking
into account the following requirements:
A university degree or equivalent and professional experience in a field related
to biosafety or PGR management.
Excellent knowledge of English, spoken and written, and good oral comprehension
of French are required.
Diploma awarded
The Certificat de formation continue en biosécurité et gestion
des ressources phytogénétiques / Certificate of Advanced Studies
in Biosafety and Plant Genetic Resources Management is awarded by the University
of Geneva. It is a postgraduate diploma worth 20 ECTS credits. It is obtained
after successfully completing the 9 modules and a thesis work.
Tuition fee
CHF 4’800.- for the whole Certificate
CHF 700.- per module
CHF 1’900.- for a thematic unit (3 modules)
The State of Geneva offers a CHF 750.- contribution to tuition fees under certain
conditions. For more information, please contact - before the course starts:
Office pour l’orientation, la formation professionnelle et continue www.geneve.ch/caf
Venue
University of Geneva (modules 1 to 5) and University of Lausanne (modules 6
to 9)
2-days modules (Thursday-Friday): 9h00 to 12h30 and 14h00 to 17h30
except module 3, which is a 3-days module (Thursday-Friday-Saturday): 9h00
to 12h30 and 14h00 to 17h30
For further information, please contact:
M. Jonathan Kissling
RIBios - Réseau Interdisciplinaire Biosécurité
iuéd
20, rue Rothschild
Case postale 136
1211 Geneva 21
jonathan.kissling@iued.unige.ch
022 908 44 94 or 022 908 44 93
or the website : Formation Continue Universitaire