GOBLET AGM at TGAC

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About TGAC:

  • The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) is a research institute focused on the development of genomics and computational biology. TGAC is based within the Norwich Research Park and receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) - £9.2M in 2012-2013 - as well as support from other research funders. TGAC is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from BBSRC.
  • TGAC offers state of the art DNA sequencing facility, unique by its operation of multiple complementary technologies for data generation. The Institute is a UK hub for innovative Bioinformatics through research, analysis and interpretation of multiple, complex data sets. It hosts one of the largest computing hardware facilities dedicated to life science research in Europe. It is also actively involved in developing novel platforms to provide access to computational tools and processing capacity for multiple academic and industrial users and promoting applications of computational Bioscience. Additionally, the Institute offers a Training programme through courses and workshops, and an Outreach programme targeting schools, teachers and the general public through dialogue and science communication activities, www.tgac.ac.uk.

 

Yesterday marked the first official AGM of the Global Organisation for Bioinformatics Learning, Education and Training (GOBLET) and TGAC were pleased to be hosting the event.

  • Following a nomination process that started in September and a voting process throughout October, the first point on the agenda was to announce the results of the committee elections. Congratulations go to the following people:
  • Executive Board

  • Chair: Terri Attwood (EMBnet)
  • Vice Chair: Vicky Schneider (TGAC)
  • Treasurer: Fran Lewitter (ISCB)
  • Secretary: Michelle Brazas (Bioinformatics.ca)
  • Learning, Education and Training Committee

  • Chair: Nicky Mulder (ASBCB)
  • Co-Chair: Celia van Gelder (NBIC)
  • Standardisation Committee

  • Chair: Pascale Gaudet (ISB)
  • Technical Committee

  • Chair: Manuel Corpas (TGAC)
  • Fundraising Committee

  • Chair: Patricia Palagi (SIB)
  • Outreach and PR Committee

  • Chair: Erik Bongcam-Rudloff (SGBC)
  • Yesterday marked the culmination of 18 months’ work, as it was at a meeting in Sweden hosted by EMBnet that it was agreed that a more formal and joined up approach was required for training in the bioinformatics and computational biology international community; hence it was agreed that a foundation should be created, and GOBLET was formed. The founder members agreed GOBLET’s aims:

       

  • Provide a global, sustainable support and networking structure for bioinformatics educators/trainers and students/trainees (including a training portal for sharing materials, tools, tips and techniques; guidelines and best practice documents; facilities to help train the trainers; and offering different learning pathways for different types of learner)
  • Facilitate capacity development in bioinformatics in all countries

  • Develop standards and guidelines for bioinformatics education and training

  • Act as a hub for fund gathering

  • Reach out to, amongst others, teachers at high schools, to bridge the gap to the next generation of bioinformaticians, and

  • Foster the international community of B3CB trainers

     

  • Chair, Terri Attwood said, “whilst today is very important for formalising GOBLET, I am proud to be able to say that we have already established the centralised portal that enables trainers to upload courses and materials and trainees to access this information. Now we can progress forward and build on this allowing the portal to go from strength to strength and GOBLET to achieve its other aims.”
  • Yesterday’s AGM marks the beginning of the future for GOBLET. It has legal foundation and is registered in the Netherlands. It has money in the bank due to the subscription funds of its 25 members and it is creating a co-operative and collaborative international approach to bioinformatics and computational biology training.
  • To find out more about GOBLET visit their website: www.mygoblet.org