EBSA Biophysics Course on Solar Energy, August 27 - 31, 2011, Szeged, Hungary

EBSA Biophysics Course on Solar Energy - Biological and Biomimetic Solutions
Szeged, Biological Research Center of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
August 27 - 31, 2011

The goal of this international school is to provide an interdisciplinary training - for MSc and PhD students and young postdocs - on solar energy utilization, with a focus on biophysics and bioenergetics. The school will provide a concise introduction to the primary photophysical and photochemical processes of natural photosynthesis - basic principles of the light havesting systems, ultrafast charge separations and stabilizations in the photochemical reaction center complexes, electron transport processes from water splitting to NADPH - as well as to the biological hydrogen evolution and the synthesis of different organic molecules. It will be shown how the understanding of these biological processes in combination with knowledge of solid state physics, elecrochemistry and nanotechnology have led to the design of technologically advanced photovoltaic devices and can help the development of new generation photochemical devices for the conversion of solar energy into fuels.

The school will also offer opportunities to the participating students for discussions/case studies in small working groups, and for simple lab demonstrations and hands-on experiments on the following broad fields of the study cases: (i) solar cells, Graetzel cell - assembly, test measurements (ii) natural and artificial light harvesting systems - spectroscopic techniques to examine the molecular architectures, (iii) photosynthesis - monitoring photosynthetic functions in intact leaves by using chlorophyll fluorimeters, basic biochemical analyses (iv) biological hydrogen evolution - cell cultures, gas chromatography. (Three out of the four topics will be offerred/to be selected for every student.)

Participation fee (covering full board and bus transfers between Budapest and Szeged):
EUR 150.- before 15th of July
EUR 200.- after 16th of July

For further information, pease visit the Summer School's website