Description The whole event Practical course Participating Institutions Project: MICRODIV2 Bioprospecting of Amazonian Microorganisms and Plant Secondary Metabolites Description The Practical Course and Workshop "Bioprospecting of Amazonian Microorganisms and Plant Secondary Metabolites" takes place at the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno; Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia from 15th of March - 2nd of April 2004 and will: transfer skilled knowledge in basic research, economic opportunities of biotechnology and initiate an awareness rising process of the sensitive ethical questions according to this topic. transfer practical know-how in prospecting strategies; identification of microorganism (bacteria and fungi) and characterization of plant secondary metabolites; from European universities (Austria and Finland), to universities, other educative organizations and private enterprises in Pan-Amazonia. widen an international expert-network, elaborating strategies to transform Amazonian biodiversity into added value and regulate the access to genetic resources and the sharing of the benefits arising from their use, with a view to provide compensation to the centres of origin of genetic resources and the holders of traditional knowledge used in biotechnological inventions, as postulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity. therefore the organization activities will focus on a 3 weeks PRACTICAL COURSE for training experts, professionals and students in microbiological, chemical and molecular biological methods, followed by a 2 days WORKSHOP, bringing together high level experts from Europe and Pan-Amazonia to establish a sustainable network of scientific cooperation to transform Amazonian biodiversity into economic value. It is the strategic objective of the present coordination consortium to strengthen and improve the "Amazonian Network for Sustainable Use of Biodiversity", as constituted by the participating partners in the "Caracas Declaration" of the MICRODIV 1 event, held at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in December 2002 in Caracas, Venezuela. We intend to form new local capacities in bioprospecting in Bolivia, with the aim of maintaining and developing the scientific cooperation between Latin America and the European Community on an equal and, through the exchange of ideas and information, benefit-sharing basis. Description The whole event Practical course Participating Institutions