On April 8, 2011, the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) hosted a one-day workshop focused on metagenomics and environmental microbiology.  Ontario researchers were brought together to network and explore opportunities in this field including in the areas of bioremediation, biomonitoring and biomining.

Presentations were given by the following Ontario researchers:

• Vasu Appanna, Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Laurentian University
• Trevor Charles, Professor, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo
• Elizabeth Edwards, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
• Mehrdad Hajibabaei, Assistant Professor, Integrative Biology & Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph

Over 50 workshop participants attended, representing academic institutions across Ontario, as well as industry, government and policy.  Representatives from other Genome Centres across Canada also attended to provide the perspective from the rest of the country on this growing area of research.