The University of Malta, through the involvement of the Conservation Biology Research Group leader Prof. Adriana Vella, successfully hosted the first international G-Bike Genomics and Genetics for Conservation training school. Participants came from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. Experienced scientists and practitioners had the opportunity to share knowledge in light of the increasing demands to meet biodiversity conservation targets from local to regional at EU and global levels.

Topics covered varied extensively from DNA barcoding for accurate identification of species and discovery of cryptic species or new alien species to environmental DNA that is increasingly contributing to monitoring of biodiversity in every habitat side by side with detailed population genetics and genomics.

Feedback received from trainees for this training school was extremely positive and encourages the Cost G-Bike network to continue working to promote the use of the high-tech genomics and genetics tools for answering the many conservation management questions to achieve more effective results. 

The scientific committee, represented by Dr Cristiano Vernesi, Prof. Mike Bruford and Prof. Vella gave certificates of participation to each trainee. These trainees have gone back to their research and management challenges with a wider consideration of genomics and genetics tools to choose from for the increasingly urgent conservation of biodiversity.

For further information contact Prof.  Vella, Department of Biology, University of Malta, on [email protected]