African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (ASBCB)

ASBCB is African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. They are a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of bioinformatics and computational biology in Africa, and with a mission to develop the application of bioinformatics in Africa. The importance of international collaboration is emphasised by ASBCB because pan-African networks and projects are boosting bioinformatics research and infrastructure on the continent of Africa. ASBCB is growing into a large network of international collaborators, researchers and contacts. This enables African Bioinformatics researchers access to exciting new opportunities that are opening up in the field of bioinformatics in Africa. ASBCB therefore provides an international forum and resource for developing competence and expertise in these areas. 
 It  has information on the Society and promotes bioinformatics courses and events. This includes a page where members can identify others in the Society with whom they wish to work. They also have a newsletter that is widely distributed and a mailing list for members to communicate with us and with each other. The main international connection is through their association with the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB). Their students receive reciprocal membership of ISCB and are actively involved in their student council and regional student groups (RSGs). There was originally one RSG for Africa, but due to its popularity this has now been split into the five regions (north, east, south, west and central Africa). ISCB and ASBCB team up every two years to run an ISCB Africa ASBC Conference on Bioinformatics, which rotates between the different African regions. These are accompanied by workshops, which train our local students and researchers. The conferences provide an international forum for African scientists to present their work and gain exposure to high quality international keynote speakers. The workshops provide a forum for learning and exposure to international trainers.