Courses, Meetings and Announcements

Announcing the New ACC/SCN Website

The ACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition is launching a web-site! The website will provide an additional medium through which to disseminate information on nutrition. The site will include:

The new ACC/SCN website will be available soon on http://www.unsystem.org/accscn/

"Breastfeeding: from Biology to Policy" The Abraham Horwitz Lecture, 1998

Dr Richard Jolly, SCN Chair, is very pleased to announce that the Abraham Horwitz Lecture, 1998, on "Breast-feeding: from Biology to Policy", will be given by Ms Isatou Semega-Janneh, from the Ministry of Health, The Gambia. The Lecture will be presented at the Symposium entitled "Challenges for the 21^st Century: A Gender Perspective on Nutrition Through the Life Cycle" at the SCN's 25^th Session, 30 March 1998 in Oslo, Norway.

The Abraham Horwitz Lecture was introduced to the SCN agenda in March 1997 at its 24^th Session, in recognition of Dr Abraham Horwitz' outstanding contribution to nutrition, and his exemplary leadership as Chairman of the Sub-Committee. The intention of the annual Lecture is to continue to promote Dr Horwitz' heartfelt, highly valued and extremely generous tradition of mentoring young talent from developing countries. Each year a guest lecturer who possesses the knowledge and commitment to present a 'bold and imaginative' presentation to the SCN Session, is invited to give this Lecture at the Session. The first Abraham Horwitz Lecture was given last year by Professor Siddiq Osmani of the University of Ulster, U.K. on the subject of "Poverty and Nutrition in South Asia".

Ms Semega-Janneh has an M.Sc. in Nutrition from the University of Oslo, Norway, and is currently head of the Nutrition Unit, Social Welfare and Women's Affairs department, Ministry of Health, The Gambia. She is also Chair of the board of directors for the Gambia Food and Nutrition Association and is a national breastfeeding coordinator in The Gambia. The SCN is delighted that Ms Semega-Janneh has accepted the invitation to give the Abraham Horwitz Lecture in 1998.

David Alnwick - New Chief of Health, UNICEF

David Alnwick has been appointed Chief of Health, Programme Division, UNICEF, New York, effective mid-November. Prior to this appointment, David served as Chief of Nutrition from December 1996. Joanne Csete will be acting Chief of Nutrition until David's replacement is appointed.

David joined UNICEF in Soroti, Uganda in 1981 as Nutrition Officer to support UNICEF's efforts during the Karamoja famine emergency and he later transferred to Kampala, Uganda. In 1984, he was assigned to the Regional Office for East and Southern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, and became the Regional Adviser, Household Food/Nutrition Policy in 1986. In 1989, David joined the Kenya Country Office as the Chief of the Health Section where he remained until his transfer to New York in 1992.

We congratulate David on his appointment. This is excellent news for health programming at UNICEF.

Ken Bailey Retires from WHO Nutrition Programme

Dr Ken Bailey retired mid November after some 35+ years of service and returned to his home in Canberra, Australia. Ken has been a tireless nutrition advocate, a treasured colleague and an SCN friend. His accomplishments have been vast. Ken can be reached by email on Baileykv@ozemail.com.au.

Vernon Young awarded the DANONE Prize

Professor Vernon Young has been awarded the DANONE Prize in recognition of his work on human protein and amino acid requirements. The prize was awarded mid November in Paris and consists of a physical award and some 800 000 FF. Professor Young works at the Laboratory of Human Nutrition, School of Science, MIT, Cambridge, U.S.A. Email: vryoung@mit.edu. We extend our congratulations to Professor Young on being awarded this prize.

'The Quest for Food Security in the Twenty-First Century'

Canadian Journal of Development Studies Special Issue 1998

Food security is a major issue at the turn of this century. The Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Development Studies (CJDS) has decided to devote a special issue of the Journal to this subject.

Founded in 1980, CJDS is the official Journal of the Canadian Association of Studies in International Development. It is a multidisciplinary and international forum on development. It publishes a special thematic issue every year, in addition to three regular issues with papers coming from all regions of the world.

The special issue on food security is due to appear around World Food Day, October 1998. Food security has many facets and dimensions, and this was taken into account in planning the special issue, as not all aspects can be addressed in depth. Papers will approach the subject from different perspectives, and at different levels - globally, nationally, and at community or household level. Food security issues in developing as well as developed countries will be addressed. The box below lists confirmed contributions (provisional titles).

For more information, and for suggestions of conference announcements and book reviews to include, please contact the guest editors: Hélene Delisle, professor, Dept. Nutrition, Université de Montreal, Canada. Tel: (514) 343-6406 Fax: (514) 343-7395 Email: delisleh@dsuper.net or John D. Shaw (formerly UN World Food Programme), Kent, U.K. Tel: (181) 402-5614 Fax: (181)289-2909 Email: djohnshaw@compuserve.co

Advancing Nutrition Education: Moving Toward Healthful, Sustainable Diets

Society for Nutrition Education's 31^st Annual Meeting Albuquerque Hilton and Holiday Inn Mountain View, Albuquerque, New Mexico July 18-22,1998

Plan to attend the 31^st Society for Nutrition Education's Annual Meeting where you will:

· hear the latest research findings on nutrition education and communication;

· strengthen your linkages with other nutrition educators in government, academic, local, and private sectors, and explore new ways to work together in communities, as nations, and across borders;

· share ideas and information to strengthen and advance your nutrition education practice;

· develop skills for both professional and personal enrichment;

· explore issues of food security, the food system, and the sustainability of the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments upon which they depend, and discover ways to make these connections understandable for the public;

· uncover opportunities to assume leadership positions with the Society;

· network and have fun with colleagues and friends.

Calendar Deadlines: January 9, 1988: abstracts email and postmark deadline for oral and poster presentations. April 1,1988: awards and grants application postmark deadline. For more information, please contact the Society for Nutrition Education, 2850 Metro Drive, Suite 416, Minneapolis, MN 55425-1412. Tel: 612-854-6721 Fax: 612-854-7869 Email: labat004@tc.umn.edu

Micronutrient Email Conference

Beginning on January 5, 1998, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Micronutrient Project will be initiating an electronic mail conference that will bring together experts to discuss Measuring Bioavailability of Trace-Mineral Dense Seeds and Optimal Breeding Strategies in View of Bioavailability Considerations. These two topics will be discussed sequentially, each session running for several weeks. Participation is encouraged from the human nutrition and agricultural research communities. The conference promises to involve a lively interdisciplinary discussion on the methodology and strategy of the current research agenda.

For more information, contact Howarth Bouis or Bonnie McClafferty at IFPRI@CGNET.COM.

Fourth International Graduate Course on Production and Use of Food Composition Data in Nutrition (FoodComp '98)

Wageningen, The Netherlands, 5-23 October, 1998

This course is intended for those involved in nutritional database programmes as analysts, compilers or users and will be of value to those teaching nutrition and nutritional aspects of food chemistry. The aim of the course is to show how those involved in the production of analytical data for nutrients in foods, and in the compilation of these data into food composition tables and nutritional databases, contribute to the quality and usefulness of these compilations in nutrition. The course will be based on the philosophy that the preparation of nutritional databases requires close understanding of the needs of the users by both compilers and producers of analytical data. The course will show how this understanding can be achieved and the benefits that flow from the collaboration of users, analysts and compilers. Stages in the production of a nutrient database will be examined.

The course is organized by the Graduate School VLAG (Advanced Studies in Nutrition, Food Technology, Agrobiotechnology and Health Sciences), the Netherlands, in cooperation with the United Nations University, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the COST programme of the European Union and the International Union of Nutritional Sciences.

The course will comprise lectures, seminars and group work. The course fee, including a Dfl 680 non-refundable deposit, is Dfl 6800. The fee covers accommodation and meals at the Wageningen International Congress Centre, course materials, tuition fees and excursions. The closing date for application is 1 July 1998 but candidates are recommended to apply as soon as possible, preferably before 1 March 1998. Further information and an application form can be obtained from Mrs L. Duym, Secretariat FoodComp '98, Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen, the Netherlands. Tel: 31 317 483054 Fax: 31 317 483342 Email: lous.duym@staff.nutepi.wau.nl Web: http://www.wau.nl/vlag/foodcopm.html

International Conference: Working Together for Better Health

Cardiff, Wales, 23-25 September 1998

Health Promotion Wales, in association with WHO, is pleased to invite you to an International Health Promotion Conference in Cardiff on 23-25 September 1998. There are four conference themes: new approaches for a new millennium, enhancing health promotion by the effective use of global communications, effectiveness of health promotion activity, and partnerships that result in health gain. Specific objectives of the conference are:

· to identify the challenges facing health promotion in the 21^st century;

· to review the effectiveness of health promotion and identify strategies for future work;

· to develop and build on the work of the WHO Jakarta conference;

· to examine ways in which partnerships can move beyond the planning stage to practical action;

· to share experiences of successes and failures to inform future action;

· contributions to health promotion from different disciplines;
· health promotion in different settings;
· skills for health promotion;
· innovative approaches to health promotion topics;
· international collaborations for health promotion;
· health promotion in different parts of the world.

Managing Health Programs in Developing Countries

The Seventh Annual Course by the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA 15^th June-7^th August 1998

This course is designed for managers and health professionals in government as well as non-governmental organizations, including hospitals, health centers and public health programmes, at the national, provincial and district government levels.

The course content will focus upon the development of practical managerial skills. Instructors will include Harvard University faculty, experienced managers and consultants. Topic areas to be covered include:

· health sector development;
· priority setting;
· organizational strategy;
· social marketing;
· micro computer operations with;
· hands-on training;
· financial management;
· human resource management;
· program financing;
· program evaluation;
· cost effectiveness analysis;
· quality assurance.

Enrollment is limited and applicants are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. For further information, including a detailed course brochure and application form, please contact Vivien Goldman, Program Manager, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, SPH 1-1210, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA. Tel: 617 432 4515 Fax: 617 432 1323 Email: vgoldman@sph.harvard.edu Web: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/mhpdc.html

Quality Assurance and Marketing in Food Processing Enterprises

Eighth International Course on Food Processing International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands

August 16 - November 21,1998

The International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen, is offering an international postgraduate training course on food processing, focusing on quality assurance and marketing in food processing enterprises. This programme aims to broaden participants' views on problems of small and medium scale food processing, to upgrade participants' knowledge concerning the analysis of problems and the selection of appropriate technologies, and to impart techniques for the implementation of selected technologies, focusing on quality assurance and marketing. The core subjects of the programme include:

· learning instructions, communication and evaluation;
· food technology;
· quality assurance;
· marketing and management;
· training and consultancy;
· group project work;
· individual presentations and group discussions;
· electives.

For further information and a brochure giving full details including course fees and an application form, please contact the International Agricultural Centre, P.O. Box 88, 6700 AB Wageningen, the Netherlands. Tel: 31317490111 Fax: 31 317418552 Email: iac@iac.agro.nl

Faculty Appointment: Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy

The School of Nutrition Science and Policy is seeking to fill a full time, core position in the Social Science programme, with specialization in political economy, economics, political science, or related discipline, starting in the 1998-9 academic year. Responsibilities will include the following.

· Teaching core courses in the political economy of hunger and malnutrition as it relates to economic, social and political development. Additional courses will be developed in the faculty member's area of interest consistent with the needs of the School.

· Participating in the research, advocacy and action programs of the School's Centers, including the Feinstein International Famine Center, the International Food and Nutrition Center and the Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition Policy.

· Conducting a programme of independent research and publication.

· Advising graduate students and supervising doctoral dissertations.

Interested applicants should send a letter and current CV to: Dr Beatrice Lorge Rogers, Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Medford, Mass, 02155, U.S.A.