Biomineralization: from atom to atoll
Last update! Biomineralization: Final program
Although the maximum number of participants for the practical exercises has already been reached, it's still possible to register only to the theoretical lectures (15-16 June) at the reduced fee of 30 €. For pre-registration please send the application form to alessandro.vescogni@unimore.it by May 20.
Within the educational activities of the PhD School in Earth System Sciences of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia we are organizing the Short Course:Modena, Italy, June 15-17, 2011
Biomineralization refers to the processes by which organisms form the mineral skeleton or deposit mineral structures whose formation is directly linked with their physiological activity. About 70 different types of biominerals have been recognized in various organisms, among them calcium carbonates, calcium phosphates and silicates are the most widespread in nature. Biomineral formation is influenced by physiological but also by environmental factors, thus skeletons of various organisms are used as proxies for (paleo)environmental reconstructions. Various state-of-the art analytical techniques are applied to retrieve those information. Nonetheless, some geochemists use such archives without deeper reflection on biological constraints of their formation and one of the purpose of this course is to show paradoxes of such simplified geological interpretations. Focus will be also on the importance of diagenetic factors on preservation of both types of information (physiological/environmental) in skeletal structures. Some biominerals, due to their complex nanocomposite structures and properties of organic inclusions, show exceptional physico-chemical features and many of them are of high commercial value (i.e. pearls). Therefore, the formation of biominerals provides an inspiration for manufacturing of novel advanced materials and it is the aim of biomimetics to mimic biomineralization process in vitro. The proposed course, due to its interdisciplinarity, should appear interesting to the broad audience of students specializing in paleontology, mineralogy, geology, and biology.
- The course will include lectures on the following topics (15-16 June):
- Biomineralization: theory.
- Biomineralization: methods (structures and biogeochemistry).
- Biodiversity of biomineralization patterns (carbonate biomineralization, siliceous biomineralization, other types of minerals involved in biomineralization).
- Fossil record of biominerals: diagenesis.
- Biomimetics and practical applications.
- Practical exercises will be held on 17th June at CIGS (Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti). Two-hours turns will be organized using SEM and AFM for micro-nanostructural analysis.
The course will be held in English by Prof. Jaroslaw Stolarski (Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland) and will take place at the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia.
The course is aimed at graduate students (doctoral level), post-doctoral fellows and young researchers. Due to the laboratory activities the number of participants is limited to 15.
Participation fee is 70 €. For pre-registration please send the application form (Download the application form: DOC, ODT, PDF) to alessandro.vescogni@unimore.it. The application deadline is 1st May 2011.
Further information about the final program of the course, travel details, accommodation and payment methods will be given to those who have sent the application form.
The organizing committee:
Francesca Bosellini
Cesare Andrea Papazzoni
Alessandro Vescogni