Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has a dire impact on countries around the world, as well as the uncertainty regarding international and national travel from/to and within South Africa, we regret to inform you of our decision to postpone the Summer School on Non-invasive Monitoring of Hormones that was to be hosted in October 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa.

The new anticipated date for the Summer School is 15 to 19 February 2021, at the Endocrine Research Laboratory of the University of Pretoria.

We will continue monitoring the developments around the COVID-19 pandemic and related mitigation measures including travel restrictions. Therefore, a final decision about the summer school being held in February 2021 or possibly being further postponed will be made by 30 November 2020.

For more details on the workshop, please read below. We appreciate your support and understanding and look forward to welcoming you to the Summer School in February 2021!

Non-invasive monitoring of hormones has become an increasingly popular tool to study basic endocrinology of zoo and wildlife species. The benefits associated with using excreta as hormone matrix are that sampling does not require restraint or anaesthesia like during blood collection. However, species-specific hormone metabolisation patterns involve verification of appropriate immunoassays for measuring the relevant metabolites.

The Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research (Germany) would like to invite graduate/postgraduate students as well as researchers to participate in the Summer School on Non-invasive Monitoring of Hormones which is planned to take place at the Endocrine Research Laboratory, University of Pretoria, South Africa from 15 to 19 February 2021.

The programme is conducted in English. Course registration fee is € 400 which covers the expenses for all instructions, laboratory supplies, use of equipment, lab manuals as well as tea breaks and a social barbecue. The provision of accommodation, including breakfast, dinner and transport to the venue is optional, for an additional € 280.

Vacancies will be filled on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. A minimum of 10 participants is required for the hormone workshop to go ahead. Deadline for registration is 15 November 2020, after which the registration fee payment will be due within 2 weeks.

For more information, please contact the Lab Manager:

Dr Nicole Hagenah

Mammal Research Institute

University of Pretoria, South Africa

Nicole.hagenah@up.ac.za