Congrès internationaux 10th Anniversary Conference of the VDWE, Ghent (Belgique)

10th Anniversary Conference of the VDWE - Behaviour and Welfare: The Science behind the Art - Ghent (Belgique) - 23-24 septembre 2006

The VDWE (The Flemish Veterinary Working Group on Ethology), in association with the European Society for Clinical Ethology and the Gent University, will be hosting its first conference in Gent on the 23 Th. and 24 Th. September 2006.

The conference is particularly relevant for veterinarians, scientists and representatives from welfare and other related organisations. It will provide an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues with similar interests and to gain insights into cutting edge animal welfare research.

Primary goals of this conference

• to highlight the background and rationale for the scientific approach of animal welfare in this field
• to facilitate a dialogue between key stakeholders and to collaborate on the development of recommendations

Topics to be covered

• Methods to objectively measure welfare using behavioural and non- behavioural parameters
• Ethical questions pertaining to the use, husbandry, and management of companion animals
• Developing objective measures to assess animal welfare in animal shelters and working companion animal applications
• Tools for applying research results to improve animal welfare in the field.
• Current opinions on companion animal welfare policy, welfare monitoring and information systems.

Language

English

Conference type

Invited speakers, short oral communications, poster sessions.

Additional information

CALL FOR PAPERS

Guidelines on Submission of Abstracts

The committee would like to encourage submissions -from practitioners as well as academics- that pertain to the different topics listed in the First Announcement. Brief discussions of points of theoretical interest, practical tips and individual case reports of importance also fall within the scope of the conference. On Saturday 23th., there will be 3 short paper sessions in the afternoon: one on the welfare of shelter animals, one on the welfare on animals working in social, therapeutic and educational settings and a third on the welfare of animals working in public services.

Selection of abstracts for oral and poster presentations will be based on the following criteria:

• Originality and relevance of the work with regards to welfare of companion animals in shelters, public or private service.
• Clarity and significance of the hypothesis being tested.
• Scientific rigor, including statistical assessment in the case of experimental work
• Clarity of analytical method used in theoretical or case reviews
• Abstracts demonstrating the possibility to apply the results in daily practice will be favoured

Instructions for authors

If you wish to submit an abstract as an oral communication or poster in either of the themed short paper sessions of Saturday 23th in the afternoon please do so according to the following instructions:

• All abstracts must be written in English.
• Abstracts should not exceed 400 words.
• All abstracts MUST include the following information on a separate cover page:
  • Title of the proposed abstract
  • Full name and complete address, telephone, fax number and e-mail address for all authors
  • Indicate the preferred session:
    • Themed session
    • Shelter animals
    • Animals working in social, therapeutic and educational settings
    • Animals working in public services
  • · Indicate the preferred format:
    • Oral communication
    • Poster
    • Either

The abstract must be sent as a Word document via e-mail to Filip Mulkens, no later than March 15th, 2006.

Abstracts in other formats or anonymous abstracts will not be accepted.

Selection of abstracts will take place between March 15th and May 1st 2006.

Authors will receive the pertinent communication on or around the latter date and will have to submit the definitive text of the paper by June 15th. 2006.

Applicants whose abstracts are accepted as oral communications or posters will receive complimentary registration for the VDWE Congress day on Sept. 23th.

dditional information can be obtained by e-mail.