Birkeland Nils-Kåre, Professor at Department of Biology University of Bergen Cooperation in environmental microbiology between Armenia and Norway (CPEA-2011/10081) Panosyan Hovik, Associate Professor at Department of Microbiology and Microbe and Plant Biotechnology, Yerevan State University University of Bergen Yerevan State University Eurasia End Seminar, 6-7 May, 2015, OSLO, NORWAY

Project goals and planned activities Education of young Armenian scientists in the molecular ecology and metagenomics fields including necessary bioinformatics skills Establishment of a research unit and a new teaching program on molecular microbial ecology at YSU Establish research and higher education activities in microbial community analysis of extreme environments (geothermal springs, salt mines, ores) Development of a curriculum at YSU that ensures a sustainable practical and theoretical education-platform

Establishment of a research and teaching unit in microbial ecology and metagenomics at the YSU realised by Training of teachers Involvement of students (Master's and PhD levels) Upgrading of the research infrastructure

Research part of the project Geothermal springs, salt mines and ore fields were selected as study objects. PhD and MSc projects were an integrated part of research activity

Research aims: Determination of microbial diversity on the basis of classical and molecular microbiological methods Isolation of microbes with biotechnological potential Publication of results in the form of papers and conference presentations; Preparation of master and PhD theses

Achievements Three PhD and three Master students visited UiB for 3-6 months and took courses in microbiology, molecular biology and bioinformatics, and carried out research projects in molecular ecology and metagenomics. One quota fellowship student from Armenia was also recruited. Based on the scientific results, one PhD thesis and one Master thesis have been completed, and more will be finalized in 2015.

Achievements Professional development of teaching staff at YSU were realized through hands-on training and study visits to UiB. Two staff members of YSU were trained in molecular ecology methods by direct participation in ongoing research projects in the partner laboratory in Bergen

Achievements The research unit for molecular ecology at YSU equipped with minimum necessary devices was established. An improved course in Microbial Ecology (9 credit course) including theory & computer exercises and laboratory exercises is fully implemented.

Achievements PhD and MSc student projects based on microbial community and metagenomic analysis of aquatic systems (geothermal springs) and soils (saline soils mine tailings) in Armenia were developed. Several thermophilic, halophilic and metallotolerant microbial strains with biotechnological potentials were isolated and maintained in the joint collection of microbes in YSU and UiB.

A joint YSU and UiB Workshop with about 100 participants on molecular microbial ecology and microbial biotechnology including lectures by 7 invited leading international experts was organized in Armenia on 5-8 October students affiliated with the project presented their results as talks and posters. Achievements

Staff, PhD and Master students affiliated with the project have presented results in different international scientific meetings. Manuscripts describing scientific results have been published in international journals. Achievements

Risk factors / Obstacles Limited accommodation capacity (guest rooms) at UiB Admission to courses at UiB Verbal communication problems Time-consuming and costly transfer of funds Involvement of only one staff member from UiB Risk factors / Obstacles Limited accommodation capacity (guest rooms) at UiB Admission to courses at UiB Verbal communication problems Time-consuming and costly transfer of funds Involvement of only one staff member from UiB Postponed Activity A manual (Practical handbook of molecular ecology) in Armenian have been prepared, but its publication is postponed because of technical problems. It will be published in Postponed Activity A manual (Practical handbook of molecular ecology) in Armenian have been prepared, but its publication is postponed because of technical problems. It will be published in 2015.

Prospects and future collaborative activities The project was extended by additional funding (CPEALA-2014/10068) for The main goal of funded limited activity project (CPEALA-2014/10111) through inclusion of additional partners from Central Asia and Georgia is establishment of a network on microbiology education between Norway, Armenia, Georgia Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Prospects and future collaborative activities The project was extended by additional funding (CPEALA-2014/10068) for The main goal of funded limited activity project (CPEALA-2014/10111) through inclusion of additional partners from Central Asia and Georgia is establishment of a network on microbiology education between Norway, Armenia, Georgia Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

Thanks to the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education for granting the project funding through the Eurasia program