FAU, Max Planck Florida Institute to host Neuroscience Symposium

To mark the launch of a new, joint Integrative Biology and Neuroscience graduate program, Max Planck Florida Institute and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) are hosting an inaugural Neuroscience Symposium, September 28-29 in the Senate Chambers of the Student Union at FAU's Boca Raton campus. The two-day event will feature speakers and scientific presentations given by the Max Planck Florida Institute; FAU; the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology; Scripps Florida; Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences; Harvard Medical School; and Northwestern University. Attending students, faculty and fellow scientists will have the opportunity to learn about the latest scientific advances to address some of the most complex issues at the forefront of today's neuroscience research.

"This is an example of our collaboration and commitment to develop Palm Beach County into a center of excellence for the neurosciences," said Dr. Samuel M. Young, Jr., Research Group Leader at Max Planck Florida Institute and one of the symposium's organizers and presenters.

This joint Max Planck Florida Institute and FAU graduate program has already begun recruiting students and is scheduled to welcome its first class in Fall 2011. The program is expected to attract top-notch graduate students locally, nationally and internationally.

"The launch of our collaborative integrative biology and neuroscience program is a testament to the foresight of the state of Florida when they made the necessary investment to bring the Max Planck Institute to Florida," said Dr. Rodney Murphey, event organizer, professor and chair of Biological Sciences at FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. "The on-going collaboration between our two organizations is a great pleasure for all concerned, and our combined resources and expertise will enable us to develop a world-class program for students in integrative biology and neuroscience."

Opening remarks at the Symposium will be given by FAU President Mary Jane Saunders; Gary Perry, dean and professor of FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and Herbert Jackle, vice president of Germany's Max Planck Society. The two-day program includes five moderated sessions and two special presentations given by Axel Borst, professor and director of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Germany, and David Fitzpatrick, director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and professor of neurobiology at Duke University.