ERGO partner Aarhus University hosted a six-day summer school ‘Introduction to Environmental Metabolomics’, which took place from 15-22 September 2021. The aim of the summer school was to introduce PhD and early career researchers to state-of-the-art environmental metabolomics based on high-resolution mass spectrometry including its possibilities and shortcomings. The course introduced participants to analytical hardware (e.g. Orbitrap mass spectrometry) and acquisition strategies, study design and sample preparation in an environmental context. The main focus of the course was working with state-of-the-art informatic tools for data (pre-) processing and statistical analysis, e.g. MZmine, XCMS, GNPS, Compound Discoverer, MatLab and R.
Untargeted metabolomics is the comprehensive characterisation of metabolites present in organisms and it is the closest measure of the phenotype at the molecular level. Application of metabolomics within the environmental sciences is known as environmental metabolomics and allows us to study interactions between organisms and their surrounding environment. Within ERGO, the Environmental Endocrine Disruptors Laboratory at Aarhus University conducts lab and field experiments at the molecular level, to understand the environmental occurrence, fate and effects of endocrine disrupting pollutants, such as natural substances, pesticides and medicine residues. Effect-oriented in-vitro and in-vivo testing in combination with wildlife investigations and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based technologies provide means to identify emerging environmental endocrine disruptors.
Deadline for registration was 5 September 2021.
If you have any questions, please contact Associate Professor Martin Hansen martin.hansen@envs.au.dk