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INDEPTH Scientific Conference (ISC) 2011

11TH  INDEPTH Scientific Conference (ISC) 2011
24 - 27, October 2011, Maputo, Mozambique

Theme:Increasing the productivity and utilisation of health and demographic surveillance system data  for public health in low- and middle-income countries.

Every year the INDEPTH Network organizes a Scientific Conference now known as the INDEPTH Scientific Conference (ISC).  The conference features a number of scientific presentations in plenary and parallel sessions by scientists and their affiliates from INDEPTH’s member Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) across Africa, Asia and Oceania. In addition, working groups on particular research projects make presentations on those projects. The conference also provides an opportunity for poster presentations especially by young scientists who are sponsored by the INDEPTH Network. Previous conferences have succeeded in bringing together scientists in health and demographic surveillance research and many other international participants from the scientific and funder/donor communities to share experiences.

The annual forum has over the years served to:

  1. Generate the Network’s scientific agenda through the working groups;
  2. Review progress of joint work undertaken by the HDSSs;
  3. Disseminate scientific research findings arising out of work implemented by INDEPTH members; and
  4. Conduct organizational business of the Network such as election of officials, reviewing reports by the Board of Trustees and by the Executive Director, and reviewing progress at the Secretariat.

The General Assembly of INDEPTH holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the ISC. The General Assembly takes final decisions on issues tabled by the Board and/or the Executive Director. All stakeholders are invited to attend the AGM which is held usually in the middle of the ISC week.

The 11th ISC will be held in Maputo, Mozambique from October 24–27 under the theme: “Increasing the productivity and utilisation of health and demographic surveillance system data for public health in low-and middle-income countries”. It will be hosted by the Manhica Health Research Centre which runs the Manhica HDSS.

One of the keynote addresses in Maputo will be delivered by the renowned innovative thinker, co-founder/chairman of Gap Minder Foundation and developer of the Trendanalyzer software system, Hans Rosling, on the topic: “Unblocking Bottlenecks in the Data Production-Consumption Circuit”.

 ISC 2011 promises to be a major global gathering of demographers, epidemiologists, public health specialists, social scientists, and other scientific researchers from Africa, Asia, Oceania and other parts of the world to reach a common understanding on future directions in demographic and health research in developing countries.  It therefore provides the best platform to share experiences as well as discuss new and strategic directions within the framework of global developments in scientific research utilisation in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).  The conference will also examine emerging opportunities for generating, managing, analyzing and sharing quality data, research methodologies and evidence.

A good number of the 42 full members of the INDEPTH Network will be represented, together with Associate members, accredited representatives of funders and other external constituencies invited by INDEPTH. Hundreds of researchers from across the world are also expected in excess of the overwhelming 300 participants who were at the Accra 2010 conference.

As a further endorsement of INDEPTH’s commitment to progressively grow the next generation of researchers and scientists, the 2011 ISC will feature a pre-conference   session for young scientists to sharpen their presentations before the main conference. This strategy aims to create an opportunity for these innovative young scientists to more effectively engage in research that seeks to push and expand the boundaries of knowledge.  It is also to strengthen INDEPTH’s research capacity building focus.

Expected Outcomes

  1. Excellent oral and poster presentations by conference participants and critical discussion by hundreds of scientists on INDEPTH science
  2. Excellent oral and poster presentations by promising young scientists with demonstrated potential to lead the envisaged renaissance in science and health research in LMICs
  3. Policy-relevant presentations selected from over 100 abstracts submitted at the close of the deadline of 31st May, 2011
  4. Exhibitions: Posters, Publications (scientific journals, supplements etc.)
  5. Side Workshops on new directions for INDEPTH Network
  6. Updates on ongoing research/studies
  7. Launch of new products, publications etc.
  8. Award of the INDEPTH prize for extraordinary research in population and health at INDEPTH centres as a motivation for good science.
  9. Meeting of the Board of Trustees
  10. Meeting of the SAC

Expected Impact

Policy

  1. Based on the scientific evidence from the presentations, policy makers could be informed on necessary interventions
  2. Demonstrable significance of health information for improving health policies in the developing world
  3. Unlocking new areas of potential impact
  4. Building partnerships with policy makers
  5. Knowledge Advancement
  6. New research and development initiatives
  7. New insights into critical health, population and social issues

 Data Initiatives

  1. Advancement of data linkage practices
  2. Better data documentation
  3. Improved data analysis
  4. Better data management

Relevant Pages

  • Programme
  1. Draft Programme
  2. Overall Structure