The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with the knowledge needed to image biofilms using light microscopy and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), to interpret biofilm images, and to quantify the information extracted from the images. The workshop is offered by the Biofilm Structure and Function Research Group at the Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University. Members of this group have extensive experience in acquiring and interpreting biofilm images, and in extracting numerical parameters characterizing biofilm structure from such images. For a detailed description of our activities, please see http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/research/Structure_function/ .

Agenda  (>top)

The workshop will be held on Thursday and Friday, July 21 and 22, 2005. Daily activities will include lectures and laboratory sessions. The lectures will cover techniques used to acquire biofilm images, to quantify biofilm structure, and to perform image analysis of biofilm images. The lab sessions will cover acquiring biofilm images using light microscopy and CSLM and using the custom designed biofilm image analysis software, Image Structure Analyzer, ISA, developed by the Biofilm Structure and Function Research Group. Specifically, the following activities are scheduled:

Instructors and Organizers                                                 The workshop is organized and instructed by:

Professor Zbigniew Lewandowski                                                 Professor Gary Harkin                                                                  Assistant Research Professor Haluk Beyenal

Instructors  (>top)                                                                  Zbigniew Lewandowski is the workshop director and a professor in the Civil Engineering Department and in the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University. He is also the principle investigator of the Biofilm Structure and Function research group at the Center for Biofilm Engineering. He has 15 years of experience in biofilm studies, and has authored and co-authored more than 90 research papers and several book chapters in the field.

Gary Harkin is a professor in the Computer Science Department at Montana State University. He has conducted research in collaboration with the Center for Biofilm Engineering in image processing and biofilm analysis for 12 years. He has over 20 years of experience in image processing and pattern recognition and has authored and co-authored many papers in these areas.

Haluk Beyenal is an assistant research professor of Chemical Engineering in the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University. He has conducted research on biofilms since 1990, and on biofilm structure and function since 1996. He has co-authored more than 40 publications on biofilms.

Location  (>top)

The workshop will be held at the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University. The campus is located in Bozeman, in the beautiful Gallatin Valley, nestled in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Directions and a map of the area will be sent to the registered participants with the registration materials.

Accommodations  (>top)

Participants are encouraged to stay at one of the following hotels due to their proximity to the Montana State University campus.

Best Western - City Center Motel, 507 W. Main St., Bozeman, MT (406) 587-3158

Lewis and Clark Motel of Bozeman, 824 W Main St, Bozeman, MT (406) 586-3341

Fees and Registration  (>top)

Because of space limitations, the number of participants is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, pre-registration is necessary. To pre-register, please call or e-mail Dr. Haluk Beyenal (contact information is given below). Once pre-registered, you will receive a confirmation number. No payments will be accepted without a confirmation number! The payment must be received by June 6, 2005. The cost of the workshop is $1,500, which includes the workshop materials, a free copy of the ISA software, continental breakfast each morning, coffee during breaks, and a farewell dinner. Each of the attendees will receive a free copy of the ISA program, which was developed to quantify biofilm images. The fee may be paid by check, money order, credit card or purchase order (payable to Center for Biofilm Engineering). To register please first contact us, and then complete the attached registration form, and return it with the fee to Haluk Beyenal.

Registration form (please contact us first, to pre-register)

Cancellation

The organizers reserve the right to cancel the workshop due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If the workshop is cancelled, the organizers will refund all registration fees, but can not be held responsible for any other related costs, charges, or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Refunds will be made for cancellations received in writing by June 1, 2005. The participant will be charged a $50 administrative fee if he/she cancels by June 1, 2005. After that, there will be no refunds, and the participant or the organization will be held responsible for the fee. Anyone who is registered but cannot attend may send a substitute.

Contacts  (>top)

For more information, please contact one of the following:

About program content                                                 Professor Zbigniew Lewandowski
Center for Biofilm Engineering
366 EPS Bldg.,  P. O. Box 173980
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717-3980
Phone:  (406) 994-4770
Fax:   (406) 994-6098
E-mail: zl@erc.montana.edu

About registration                                                           Haluk Beyenal
Assistant Research Professor
Center for Biofilm Engineering
366 EPS - P. O. Box 173980
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT   59717-3980
Phone:   (406) 994 2269 or 6028
Fax:   (406) 994 6098
E-mail: beyenal@erc.montana.edu

(>top)