JUSTIFICATION FOR BIOPHYSICS SCHOOLS HELD IN CROATIA SINCE 1981.

Based on internationally recognized and successfully established nine international summer schools on biophysics held under the title «Supramolecular Structure and Function» in Croatia, we would like to continue with the International Summer Schools on Biophysics to be held from September 19 until October 1, 2009 in Rovinj, Istria, Croatia.

Scientific Scope

An enormous amount of new knowledge on the molecular basis of various biological phenomena has emerged in the rapidly expanding field of bioscience. The principles and methods of biophysics provide an underpinning of all of the basic bioscience and is the rational language for discussion between scientists of different disciplines. This is a general philosophy behind the organization of such kind of summer schools of The Croatian Biophysical Society (CBS) and the Ruđer Bošković Institute.

Contrary to other workshops or schools centered mainly on one topic or technique, the International Summer Schools on Biophysics have a very broad scope, since the intention is to organize courses which provide advanced training at doctoral or postdoctoral level in areas related to biophysics. Therefore, the Schools have essentially a catalytic role and are complementary to rather than competing with, activities of parallel national or international programs.

The School is intended for young scientists at the beginning of their careers in research or university work. Although it is designed for students at the doctoral or postdoctoral level interested in molecular nature of fundamental biological entities. Some interested universities (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka (Croatia), Maribor (Slovenia), Marie Curie Action on EST education (EU), etc.  have or are intending to include the Schools in the curricula of their doctoral studies. Some other European universities are contacted (Graz, Lisabon, Bilbao, Paris, etc. to consider involving Biophysics Schools into their doctoral curricula. The School is also of interest to experienced scientists wishing to gain a broader insight into the molecular basis of biological structures and functions.

History

The Schools started 1981 with the initiative of The Croatian Biophysical Society and IUPAB. This activity continues each third year (1981, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006) in Dubrovnik, or last four in Rovinj, Croatia.

Structure

The structure of the School with lectures, seminars and round-table discussions with the emphasis on the discussion established at the very beginning has shown to be a successful pattern that was at the later schools accompanied with the posters as well (Table 1). From there on, two weeks course was continuously held each third year, becoming the permanent activity of the CBS and Ruđer Bošković Institute.

One week of the «core curriculum» where basic biophysical knowledge presented from the very prominent lecturers is followed by the second week, which is devoted to the topic(s) varied at each school. This particular scope of the school enabled the participants to get acquainted with the state-of-art problem-oriented and/or methodology-oriented approaches to biological systems. Major topics are presented in a series of lectures which include inter- and intramolecular interactions in biological systems; structure, organization and function of biological macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, sugars) and supramolecular assemblies (membranes, ribosomes, etc.); major techniques in biophysics (X-ray crystallography, NMR, EPR, FTIR, fluorescence, mass spectrometry, microscopic techniques, etc.) and evolutionary implications of molecular interactions, as well as molecular biology and biotechnology.

Table 1

Activities at Biophysics Schools

Particular emphasis has been given to specialized topics on membranes, interactions of proteins and nucleic acids, proteins as organizers of supramolecular associations and determinants of biological specificities, molecular diagnostics, brain functioning biophysical methods, etc. With the years the Biophysics Schools are presenting more and more molecular biology-oriented approaches like genetic modification, gene therapy, vaccine production etc.

Location

The School is held at Red Island, Rovinj, Istria, Croatia, place which provide a suitable atmosphere for a fruitful interaction among participants. The only hotel on small island keeps them together all the time during the school.

Local organization

The Croatian Biophysical Society and Ruđer Bošković are offering local organization.

Table 2

The number of lecturers (A) and participants (B) by countries at Biophysics Schools.

(A)

LECTURERS

(B)

PARTICIPANTS

School methodology

There are few facts paramount to the scientific success and the continuity of the International Summer School on Biophysics. This overview of structures, mechanisms and methodologies given at the schools is presented by the very prominent lecturers, some of them Nobel laureates. The scientific interaction of participants among themselves or with the lecturers is always extremely fruitful and active, often accompanied by the future cooperation. Last but not least, the social contacts among participants and the lecturers, as well as the contacts with the domestic culture have proven that the communication between scientists could be of mutual interest as well as of interest to Croatia.

To keep the peripatetic character of the International Summer Schools there are only around hundred participants from different countries from all over the world, from Nigeria to Estonia, Cuba to Taiwan participating very actively in discussions during or after the lectures, at poster session, at discussion clubs of the School or even at the beaches, and about 30 prominent lecturers giving two to three lectures each during the course (Table 2).

All nine schools resulted in the Proceedings published under the title «Supramolecular Structure and Function» as the books by: Plenum Press, London 1983 (eds G. Pifat and J.N. Herak); Springer Verlag, Heidelberg 1986 /ed G. Pifat); World Publishing Co., Singapore 1988 (ed G. Pifat); Balaban Pub., Rehovot 1992 (ed G. Pifat) and Balaban Pub., Rehovot 1995 (ed G. Pifat-Mrzljak); Periodicum Biologorum, Zagreb (ed G. Pifat-Mrzljak); Kluwer/Plenum Publisher 2001. (ed. G. Pifat-Mrzljak); Kluwer Pub. 2004 (ed. G. Pifat-Mrzljak); Springer 2007 (ed. G. Pifat-Mrzljak).

So, the School is focused on educational activities at one spot in Rovinj and encourages young scientists and their mentors at different European universities to be enrolled into the School as a part of the Bologna networking process but it is of interest world-wide to bring together scientists of different bio-fields to exchange their ideas.