China-Germany Symposium on Microbes and the Environment held in Beijing

In order to provide a communicative platform for both Chinese and German scientists in the research field of microbiology and promote the development of environmental microbiology, the China-Germany Symposium on Microbes and the Environment, co-organized by the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion, Institute of Microbiology, CAS and Chinese Society for Microbiology, was held on Sep.23-28, 2007, at Sino-German Center for Research Promotion. Thirty-three eminent scientists engaged in environmental microbiology from home and abroad were invited to this workshop, including 10 German scientists,19 Chinese scientists as well as another 4 scientists from foreign countries. They introduced their latest progress in respective domain and discussed the relationship between microbiology, environmental protection and sustainable development. Director of Sino-German Center for Research Promotion, Dr. Zhao Miaogen and DFG official, Dr. Andreas Strecker were present at the meeting in person and delivered welcome speech and expressed their congratulations on the convening of the symposium. Prof. Liu Shuangjiang from Institute of Microbiology, CAS and Prof. Harold Drake from University of Bayreuth extended their sincere thanks and warm welcome. The theme of reports can be categorized into three respects: diversity and its biochemical process of soil microbes, microbial degradation and bioremediation of pollutants, and microbial process related to environmental quality. All the experts present introduced their latest accomplishments, and participated in the active discussion concerning new technology and approaches of microorganism activity and environmental changes. Quality, efficiency, and active academic atmosphere constituted the characteristics of the symposium. Experts’ fascinating speeches deeply inspired the audience with new idea and innovative scientific perspective. The symposium set up a communicative platform for environmental microbiology experts from home and abroad, pointed out the challenge and problem existing in the field of environmental microbiology. The symposium came to an end successfully and achieved the desired effect.