Dear Colleagues,
You are cordially invited to attend the 13th European Meeting of the IOBC/WPRS Working Groups "Insect Pathogens and Insect Parasitic Nematodes" entitled “Biological Control in IPM Systems” from 19th to 23rd June 2011 in Innsbruck, Austria. This meeting will also include special sessions on wireworms.
The BIPESCO-Team and the Applied and Trophic Ecology Research Group from the University of Innsbruck are hosting this meeting and we are looking forward to welcome you in Innsbruck.
The International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) was established in 1955 to promote environmentally safe methods for pest and disease control in plant protection. IOBC/WPRS is one of six Regional Sections of IOBC, its members include individual scientists, as well as governmental, scientific or commercial organizations from 24 countries within Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.
The Insect Pathogens and Insect Parasitic Nematodes is a working group within the IOBC/WPRS promoting communication between biological-control workers interested in this particular topic through biannual meetings.
Given the urgent need for support of Europe-wide research co-operations, this meeting will gather and discuss the latest information on future trends in the field of integrated pest management (IPM), necessary to meet the challenges of globalisation, climate change, and new plant protection policies.
The focus will be on the control of insects, arachnids, mollusces and nematodes using biological control agents (BCAs) such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes and other pathogens. During this meeting special emphasis will also be put on wireworms, synthesising the progress made in wireworm ecology and control during the last few years, as well as identifying future research undertakings.
All contributions addressing these topics are welcome. This meeting will include invited and contributed talks, as well as poster and discussion sessions to encourage communication between entomologists, pathologists, and experts of other disciplines on new and relevant problems in biocontrol. Therefore, significant amount of time will be dedicated to facilitate exchange of expert knowledge and experience.
All participants are invited to submit 4-page manuscripts on the topics of their presentations to be published in a special issue of the IOBC bulletin. All contributions to the bulletin should be submitted by February 21, 2011. Moreover, there is the possibility to publish full papers on wireworms within a special issue of Journal of Pest Science. These contributions will be subject to peer review and have to be submitted until June 30th 2011 at the latest. Please see information on manuscript preparation here.
Two panel discussions are planned addressing foundations of biological and integrated control of animal pests.
The first plenary session will include discussion on (i) new rules and regulations for integrated pesticide-management which need to be implemented by EU member countries by the beginning of 2011 and (ii) novel methods, tools, technologies and strategies within IPM programmes, to reduce pesticide inputs while ensuring the competitiveness of European agriculture.
The second plenary session will highlight work that aims to overcome major practical constraints of biocontrol approaches. This will include, research on the identification and characterisation of both BCAs and pests, their ecology, as well as their mode of action and novel insights into their genetics.
Biocontrol workshops have become part of the IOBC working group meetings and will also be organised in the frame work of this meeting.
Although the meeting is a European initiative, it is by no means restricted to European researchers. We encourage colleagues from other continents to contribute.
Meeting Management: BIPESCO-Team Innsbruck
We are looking forward to arranging a stimulating meeting and hope to see you in Innsbruck. Do not hesitate to contact the Organisers if you require any additional information or assistance.
Address all correspondence to Congress Secretariate:
Barbara Pernfuss
E-mail: Barbara.Pernfuss@uibk.ac.at
Address:
Institute of Microbiology
Faculty of Biology
University of Innsbruck
Technikerstrasse 25
A-6020 Innsbruck
AUSTRIA
FAX: +43(0)512507/2929
TEL: +43(0)512507/5907
http://bipesco.uibk.ac.at
http://www.uibk.ac.at/mycologi/
Please refer to the webpage to find further information in the coming weeks:
www.uibk.ac.at/bipesco/iobc_wprs_2011
With kind regards,
Hermann Strasser, Meeting Chairperson; Ralf-Udo Ehlers, Working Group Convenor
Martin Kirchmair, Sigrid Neuhauser, Barbara Pernfuss and Hermann Strasser:
BIPESCO-Team Innsbruck, Institute of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck
Corinna Wallinger, Karin Staudacher, Nikolaus Schallhart and Michael Traugott:
Applied and Trophic Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck
