Welcome to the 2010 International Postgraduate Course in "Ecology and Diversity of Marine Microorganisms (ECODIM)". This is an intensive 3-week course which will be offered  by the Austral Summer Institute VIII (ASI-VIII), open to graduate and advanced undergraduate students and professionals in the areas of marine biology, ecology, environmental microbiology and related fields.

The focus of this course will be on how interactions between microorganisms and the marine environment  shape biogeochemical processes in the oceans. The purpose is to provide an overview of the many facets of the exciting field of microbial ecology and diversity, as it relates to the role of marine microbes in the geochemical cycling of elements. The course aims to bring together various aspects of environmental, molecular and microbiological, as well as chemical and physical methodologies needed to approach questions of biogeochemical interest. At the course location we will emphasize on the marine environment, but will not exclude other interesting microbial ecosystems available at various sites in the Concepción area. The course is limited to 15 students and selection will be on a competitive basis.