Joint Working Group Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary science that uses mathematical approaches and computer-aided methods to address questions from life science research, especially those at the molecular level. It makes a significant contribution to gaining numerous fundamental insights and developing new applications for modern biology and medicine . Many applications and research areas in the life sciences are inconceivable without bioinformatics methods: DNA sequence analysis, comparative genome analysis, biological databases, microarray experiments, structure and function elucidation of proteins, molecular docking and drug discovery, as well as systems biology, are among the most important.

Today, bioinformatics students are enrolled at around 30 universities. The members of the Division closely monitor this development by contributing to training and the design of teaching. However, they also always see the need to adapt the training offered in light of rapidly changing demand. The first scientific Conference in Germany, which dealt with the potential of information technology for biological research, took place in Braunschweig in 1985. This eventually developed into the German Conference on Bioinformatics (GCB), which has been held annually at various university locations in Germany since then. The Conference enjoys great interest, with around 300 participants, and has long been the largest national event of its kind in Europe.

In May 2014, the Society for Chemical Engineering and biotechnology (DECHEMA ), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), the German Chemical Society (GDCh) and the Society for computer science (GI) agreed to merge the activities of their Divisions in the field of computer science in the life sciences into the Joint Division on Bioinformatics. The members of the previous bioinformatics Divisions now belong to the Joint Division on Bioinformatics. The German Society for Medical computer science, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS ) joined in autumn 2015 and the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) joined in May 2019.

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The joint Bioinformatics Division is not a Division within the meaning of the GDCh statutes.

Advisory Board

The composition of the current advisory board can be found here

membership

Interested members of the specialist societies "Society for Chemical Technology and biotechnology eV (DECHEMA)", "Society for biochemistry and Molecular Biology eV (GBM)", "German Chemical Society eV (GDCh)", "Society for computer science eV (GI)" and the "German Society for Medical computer science, Biometry and Epidemiology eV (GMDS)" can become members of the joint Division at no additional cost.


You can find the membership application here