Avian Influenza and the Pandemic Threat

The National Centre for Biosecurity, a collaboration of The Australian National University and The University of Sydney, invites interested scholars and policymakers to attend the 2nd Annual Biosecurity Symposium, on the theme ‘Integrating Knowledge, Implementing Change’.

At a time of increasing worldwide concern about the impact of infectious diseases on health and security, this symposium explores naturally-occurring threats (e.g. pandemics), threats arising from human agency (e.g. bioterrorism), the overlapping responses to both types of threat, and requirements for changes to policy and practice.

The symposium is an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas between scientists, academics, health professionals, government officials, members of non-government organisations, and other interested individuals. Topics will include:

• Responding to infectious disease emergencies in Australia and the Asia-Pacific
• The impact of infectious disease outbreaks on health governance, state functioning and the economy
• The development and use of biological weapons by state and non-state actors
• National biodefence programs
• Dual use dilemmas and security risks of research on pathogenic micro-organisms
• International law and domestic regulation
• Relevance and applications of new technologies to biosecurity challenges
• Ethical, social and cultural dimensions of biosecurity

The deadline for registration is 30 January 2008

For additional information and registration instructions, go to http://www.biosecurity.edu.au/symposium.php