Dear colleague, Metagenomics has quickly become one of the most important discovery tools in microbial ecology. Metagenomics is a powerful tool to study the organisms in microbial communities, that has numerous applications in many areas of biomedical science. By bypassing the need for laboratory culturing, this technology can unlock the massive uncultured microbial diversity, enabling the microbial component of specific environments to be surveyed, discover new organisms, and explore the dynamic ecology of microbial populations under changing conditions. The high throughput nature of metagenomics means that huge datasets are generated, and in order to extract biological information from these data, advanced bioinformatics and statistical tools are indispensable.

From 15-19 September 2014 we organize a five-day course at NIOO-KNAW in Wageningen. Participants will get hands on experience in the analysis and treatment of metagenomic data, including preprocessing and quality filtering, data handling and submission to public archives, annotation, multivariate statistical analyses, and metagenome assembly.

On the last day of the course, 19 September 2014, we are organizing an Environmental Metagenomics Symposium which will bring together renowned scientists in microbial ecology and bioinformatics, who will present their recent explorations of the microbiota of different environments. Moreover, we will welcome the presentations of several students of the metagenomics course held in the week leading up to this symposium. Together, this will be an exciting opportunity to see the latest advances in environmental metagenomics from young talents as well as established leaders in the field. The symposium is open for everyone interested in environmental metagenomics. Attending the symposium is free of charge, but registration by email is required. All information about the programmes of course and symposium and about registration can be found in the attached pdf. Our website will be available soon: https://nioo.knaw.nl/en/metagenomics-course. The organization of course and symposium has been made possible with the generous support of AllBio.<http://www.allbioinformatics.eu/doku.php> If you are interested in participating in either the course or the symposium, please mark your calendar! You can also indicate your interest in participating by sending an email to Barbara van Kampen (Barbara.vanKampen@radboudumc.nl<mailto:Barbara.vanKampen@radboudumc.nl>). You will then be notified when registration is open. Best regards, Bas Dutilh (Utrecht University & Radboudumc) Eiko Kuramae (NIOO-KNAW) Celia van Gelder (Radboudumc) Dr. Celia W.G. van Gelder Projectleader Education NBIC/BioSB Coordinator Education CMBI Programme Manager Learning DTL tel. +31-(0)24-3666120 e-mail: Celia.vanGelder@radboudumc.nl<mailto:C.vanGelder@umcn.nl> websites: www.nbic.nl<http://www.nbic.nl/>, www.biosb.nl, www.cmbi.ru.nl<http://www.cmbi.ru.nl/>, www.dtls.nl Postal address: CMBI 260 Radboud University Nijmegen-Medical Centre PO Box 9101 6500 HB Nijmegen The Netherlands Het Radboudumc staat geregistreerd bij de Kamer van Koophandel in het handelsregister onder nummer 41055629. The Radboud university medical center is listed in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce under file number 41055629.