The 13th European Wildlife Disease Association Conference is now loading… We welcome you to this website, where you will be finding all the news and progresses regarding the upcoming event.
The conference will take place on August 27-31, 2018 in Larissa, Greece. The EWDA Wildlife Health Surveillance Network meeting (August 26, 2018) and the annual meeting of ECZM (August 26-27, 2018) will take place in parallel.
The theme “Wildlife health and conservation: expectations in a challenging era” sets the focus to the changing environment and the need to promote disease and conservation management in a more effective manner. All classic topics will be included, as well as other newly emerged ones. We aspire to present you a diversified and at the same time a profound program. Our Scientific Committee is trying hard to reach that goal.
Host of the 13th EWDA Conference is the University of Thessaly and Professor Charalambos Billinis, from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, is leading the host Organizing Committee. Thessaly is located in central Greece and includes all the kind of ecosystems that exist in the country, from coastal and seaside to alpine ones. The University has branches in all the four cities of the region Thessaly (Larissa, Volos, Karditsa and Trikala), and our organizing preparations aim at covering most of it.
Larissa will be the center of our activities, as all of the scientific program will take place in the premises of the University there. Larissa is the fifth biggest city in the country. It is a modern and alive city, with a dynamic student population, while night life is full of choices and quality places. Ancient Greek history revives in the center of the city, since an ancient theatre has seen the light the last years. The Diachronic Museum of Larissa is also a new edifice worth visiting for its exhibits, while many other archaeological sites are spread around. It is known that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, worked and died in Larissa. Western area of the region Thessaly will be visited during our scheduled afternoon excursion to Meteora, near the city of Trikala, a magnificent destination composed by a truly inspiring and sensational setting of overwhelming rock formations which are decorated with historical monasteries. Meteora is included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. During the excursion you will also have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Natural History of Meteora & Mushrooms Museum and the area that hosts the largest Neophron percnopterus population in Greece. Lake Karla, near the city of Volos, is an important wetland for different birds such as flamingo, egret, grey heron, wigeon etc. The biggest wetland restoration program in the wider Mediterranean area is now taking place there. Post conference tour will give you the opportunity to visit one of the islands that belong to the region, Alonissos. The biggest protected marine park in Europe (the National Park of Alonisos) is located on the island, and you will be able to see monk seals and wild birds during their migration period.
The Conference is organized to offer you a wide range of the latest scientific advancements, a balanced combination of interesting wildlife activities and social events, and an opportunity to sense the Greek history and culture.
Greece is a place worth to remember for many reasons. We hope to make the 13th EWDA Conference one more!
We look forward to welcoming you and experience an unforgettable conference…
Professor Charalambos Billinis
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
University of Thessaly