> > Prof. Dussart has asked me to post the enclosed announcement on the
Conch-L Net.
> > Best regards,
> > Henk K. Mienis
> > [log in to unmask]
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> > > SLUGS & SNAILS -
> > > AGRICULTURAL, VETERINARY & ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES
> > > 8 - 9 SEPTEMBER 2003
> > >
> > > Slugs and snails can cause enormous amounts of economic, medical and
> > > veterinary damage to human societies. Modern reduced-tilling methods
of
> > > agriculture can promote the development of high populations of slugs
in
> > > crop fields and even  resistant crops such as maize and turnip can
suffer
> > > twenty per cent reductions. The problems are not confined to the land.
> The aquatic Golden Apple snail has become a serious pest, destroying rice,
> > > maize and citrus crops in the Philippines and in Taiwan, two million
> > > dollars is spent annually to control snails on 100,000 hectares of
> > > paddy fields. Aquatic snails spread diseases such as liver and blood
> > > flukes in many parts of the world. In China, after the completion of
> > > the Three Gorges Dam, 58 million people will be  at risk of new
> > > infection by snail borne diseases which have a secondary host in water
> > > buffalo.
> > > During this two-day Symposium, the issues of pest control relating to
> > > slugs and snails  on land and in water will be debated. The experience
> > > of both farmers and researchers will provide the basis for discussion.
> > > More general aspects of conservation and biodiversity will also be
> > > relevant to the discussion, as will newer methodologies of molecular
biology.
> > > Sessions at the Symposium will be held on:
> > > -Economic aspects and snail farming;
> > > -Physiology and function;
> > > -Behaviour and ecology;
> > > -Prospects for improved control;
> > > -Integrated pest management;
> > > -Population regulation/environmental aspects;
> > > -Conservation, evolution and biodiversity;
> > > -Molluscs, molecules and man.
> > >
> > > Offers of papers are sought from all those undertaking research
> > > relevant to the Symposium themes. Authors have the option to offer a
> > > paper either for oral platform presentation, or for presentation as a
> > > poster paper. The text of all platform and poster papers will be
> > > published, in English, in the edited proceedings which will be made
> > > available at the start of the symposium.
> > >
> > > This Symposium will be held at Christ Church University College,
> > > Canterbury, UK. Accommodation at the College has been reserved by the
> > > Organisers. Full programme details and accommodation rates will be
> > > given in the Provisional Programme brochure (available in June 2003)
or
> > > from the BCPC website.
> > >
> > > Symposium organising committee
> > >
> > > Prof Georges Dussart  Ecology Research Group, Canterbury
> > > Dr David Alford BCPC
> > > Prof Robert Cameron Consultant, Sheffield
> > > Dr Richard Cook Kingston University
> > > Prof David Glen Styloma Research & Consulting, Cheddar
> > > Dr Brigitta Grimm Natural History Museum, London
> > > Dr Gordon Port University of Newcastle
> > > Dr Stuart Bailey University of Manchester
> > > Dr William Symondson Cardiff University
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> > > HOW TO OFFER YOUR PAPER
> > > All authors wishing to put forward a paper for consideration are
required to:
> > > -Provide a 150 to 200 word synopsis (this will not be published);
> > > -Indicate which session their paper is being offered to;
> > > -Indicate if the paper is a platform or poster paper;
> > > -Submit their offer for consideration before 31 MARCH 2003.
> > > Authors can submit their offers either:
> > > -Direct from the BCPC website.
> > http://www.bcpc.org/Events/Slugs&Snails/index.htm
> > > -Via email to the Symposium Chairman at Email [log in to unmask]
> > > -By post to the Symposium Chairman,
> > >
> > > Prof Georges Dussart,
> > > Ecology Research Group, Canterbury Christ Church University College,
> > > North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU, UK
> > >
> > > All offers will be considered by the Symposium Programme Committee.
The
> > > Committee reserves the right to refuse contributions, or to redirect
> > > offers to alternative sessions. Each session is managed by a Session
> > > Organiser who will make contact with you if your paper is
provisionally
> > > accepted. A full draft of the paper will be required by 1 June 2003
> > > with final scripts produced, in the required format, by 18 July 2003.
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