The regional workshop on One Health calls for abstracts from young scientists in Africa

The World Academy of Sciences Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partner (TWAS-SAREP), the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the TWAS Young Affiliates Network (TYAN) will be hosting a virtual Regional Symposium on One Health from 12 to 13 December 2023.

According to the World Health Organisation, “One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent."

This One Health symposium will focus on fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that address the complex challenges at the intersection of human, animal, plant and environmental health research in Africa’ and seeks to enhance our current knowledge, build further capacity and establish deeper networking amongst Early Career Researchers (ECRs) working in the field of infectious diseases in the Africa region. The main aim of convening this symposium from a One Health perspective stems from the growing global threat of current and future pandemics, rapid cross-border movement of people (migration) and the need for a collective sense of responsibility towards a proactive public health regime and environmental stewardship in Africa.

The application deadline is 17 November, you can register here.
TWAS-SAREP is encouraging ECRs from Africa to apply and participate in this thematic symposium opportunity.

The symposium will provide a cohesive platform: ONE HEALTH research in Africa. It will be set with the following objectives:

• To provide a platform to exchange innovative ideas, capacitate and improve networking and meaningful collaboration among ECRs in the field of infectious diseases, food safety and environmental sustainability. 
• To gain and expand current knowledge on issues that disproportionately affect Africa, including infectious diseases, food safety and environmental sustainability.
• To identify niche and emerging areas of research that can benefit from cross-border and transboundary collaborative projects. This includes tackling complex challenges that lie at the intersection of human, animal, plant and environmental health.

This symposium will feature the following sub-themes:

1. Multi-faceted impacts of climate change on infectious diseases, food safety and environment, with a focus on adaptation and mitigation strategies.
2. Translation of basic science research to clinical and policy applications in infectious diseases, food safety and environmental health. This includes the development and evaluation of public health and food safety policies that integrate human, animal and environmental health.
3. Strategies for surveillance, early detection and coordinated response across human, animal and environmental in line with lessons learned from Covid-19, Ebola, XDR-TB, outbreak of food poisoning and other outbreaks.
4. Application of emerging technologies such as smartphones, artificial intelligence, diagnostic imaging and point-of-care technologies to address challenges in infectious diseases, food safety and environmental health.
5. Science diplomacy and advocacy on effects of conflict in Africa on science and migration of the affected scientists in the region and support post war.

Eligibility

This call is open to early career researchers (ECRs) who are based in Africa. Applicants should meet the following criteria to participate:

• Be resident in Africa
• Be early career researchers (those undertaking PhD or a Postdoctoral Fellowship)
• Be under the age of forty (40) years at the time of application
• Have research experience associated with ONE HEALTH related to the aim and objectives of the Symposium.
• Commit to be present online and actively engage for the duration of the symposium
• Willing to present and share current research results at the symposium 

Symposium Participation and Application

TWAS-SAREP invites the submission of abstracts for oral presentations. Interested candidates, who meet the above-mentioned criteria should please complete the accompanying application form and return it to Mr Kholani Mbhiza (kholani@assaf.org.za) by 17 November 2023.

There is no registration fee to participate at the Symposium. Due to financial constraints, the symposium will be held virtually but a participation certificate will be awarded.

3.1.  Abstract Format

Applicants should follow the instructions clearly. Abstract must not be more than 300 words (excluding Title, Authors and Institutions) using the attached template. Abstract must be written in English

3.2.  Abstract Acceptance

Abstracts will be reviewed by a scientific committee which reserves the right to accept or decline submissions for presentation. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by 30 November 2023.