Fourth International Workshop on Arctic Parasitology (IWAP IV)
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
1-4 June 2010
Remember to register and send in abstracts before 3rd May 2010.
What is IWAP all about?
The IWAP meetings are unique. There are no other conferences that focus on infectious diseases in Arctic and northern wildlife or on zoonotic infections and diseases that occur in people living in the northern regions. The Arctic and the north are currently undergoing dramatic changes, partly as a result of global climate change, and infectious diseases, including those caused by parasites, are of increasing concern.
The first Workshop on Arctic Parasitology was arranged in 2000, in Canada. The aims were to bring together researchers from different backgrounds (veterinary surgeons, biologists, parasitologists, molecular biologists) along with wildlife managers and other stakeholder groups, including indigenous human populations, from the circumpolar regions to discuss the current understanding of , and any future needs, related to parasitic infections in the Arctic and in northern wildlife. The second meeting was held in 2003 in Finland, whilst the most recent workshop, in 2006, was held once again in Canada. The first three workshops were attended by over a hundred participants from nine circumpolar lands. The workshops have led to the establishment of networks that have resulted in numerous international collaborative research projects and have contributed considerably to our knowledge regarding the impact of parasites in northern ecosystems as well as zoonotic diseases such as trichinellosis and toxoplasmosis.
IWAP-IV will provide an excellent forum for discussions and the exchange of ideas at a circumpolar level. The workshop will help to provide synergy for future collaborative research projects.
The provisional scientific programme for IWAP
Day 1: The International Polar Year (IPY) – what has been achieved. Summarising the results from the numerous research projects carried out with IPY funding.
Day 2: The marine environment – highlighting parasites from hosts that inhabit the marine environment, with particular focus on zoonotic parasites.
Day 3: The terrestrial environment – highlighting the impact of parasites on their terrestrial hosts including zoonoses and the effects of climate change.
Why Svalbard?
Svalbard, by Arctic standards, is incredibly rich in animal and plant life and also has a long standing tradition of research excellence. It has been, and continues to be, a centre for national and multinational research projects in a range of disciplines, including the field of parasitology, making it an ideal location in which to hold a meeting of this type.
Submit an abstract (please complete registration first)
| Important dates |
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| Last day for registration: | 3rd May 2010 |
| Last day for submission of abstracts: | 3rd May 2010 |
Further practical information.
The conference is supported by:
