Introductory PAMTech: Training workshop on PAM fluorometry

At the University of Technology Sydney, we offer one of the most comprehensive suites of fluorometer training courses in the Southern Hemisphere. We have access to over 10 fluorometers ranging from the Imaging-PAM through to the Diving-PAM. We have postgraduate students applying most of these fluorometers to advanced research applications ranging from photokinetics of Antarctic sea-ice algae to understanding the photosynthetic weakness of corals when exposed to bleaching conditions. The Aquatic Photosynthesis Group has over 10 years of experience in the applied use of PAM fluorometers and over 40 internationally published research articles based on this technology.

We offer practical hands-on training workshops in all aspects of use and understanding of PAM fluorometers; Associate Professor Peter Ralph has run six PAM training courses throughout Australia and internationally.

Who Will Benefit?

The Introductory workshop is a two-day hands-on course that enables attendees to tailor the training to their particular needs.

This workshop is designed for all novice PAM-users. Those who have recently got access to a fluorometer with limited background in this field are well suited to this style of workshop. Attendees could be postgraduate students, government employees, biologists, consultants; typically a mix of university and public sector research staff.

We will provide attendees with examples of typical PAM applications, as well as considering the appropriate analysis of the data. It is best if the attendee send a brief outline of their anticipated application of the PAM, so the tutor can focus discussion in areas of interest to the workshop attendees.

Class size will be a minimum of five to a maximum of ten students for each workshop, which is a combination of lectures, practical and tutorials.

Overview of short-course

Day 1
Seminar: Introduction to PAM and how does a PAM work?
Practical:What controls the fluorescence signal?
Seminar:Practical explanation of PAM measurements
Practical: Basic measurements; Fv/m and DF/Fm’
Tutorial:What is the appropriate measure to use?

Day 2
Seminar: Fluorescence-based analysis of photosynthesis
Practical:Rapid Light Curve
Seminar:More complex measurements; quenching analysis
Practical:Induction and relaxation of fluorescence
Tutorial:Practice run of an experiment

Fluorometers available for training are:

• Imaging-PAM
• Water-PAM
• Diving-PAM
• Mini-PAM
• PAM-2000
• Microscopy-PAM
• Microfibre-PAM
• Toxi-PAM
• Teaching-PAM
• Junior-PAM
• as well as several non-modulated f

Bookings are essential.

Should you need further assistance on the workshop structures, please contact Associate Professor Peter Ralph.