Nasmus

NATIONAL MUSEUM CO-HOSTED INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RODENT BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

The National Museum has recently, through the involvement of its scientists in the Mammalogy Department, co-hosted the Fourth International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management (ICRBM4). This Conference was held at the C.R. Swart Auditorium on the main campus of the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, from 12 to 16 April 2010.

This was the first time that this Conference was held in Africa, and is considered to have been a big success.  Approximately 140 people attended the conferene - from 36 countries (6 continents).  The issues dealt with included from ecology, behaviour, physiology and reproductive biology to genetics, taxonomy and systematics, from conservation to pest management, and human and livestock health and safety to rodent parasites and diseases.  Contributors reported on work done in most of the major biomes in the world, ranging from the cold sub-antarctic to deserts, grasslands and equatorial forests.  The proceedings of the conference will be spread over four international accredited scientific journals (in preparation). 

The ICRBM4 Local Organising Committee wants to thank the many local, national and international sponsors who have contributed to making the conference a big success:

University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Pretoria, South Africa

Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Free State Province, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), The Netherlands

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia

Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Canberra, Australia

E. Oppenheimer & Son, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa

The South African Breweries (SAB), Bloemfontein, South Africa

Griekwaland West Cooperation (GWK) / Landzicht Wines, South Africa

The Diamond Route Limited, South Africa

 

For more information please contact Dr Nico Avenant , who acted as Chairperson of the ICRBM4 Local Organising Committee.  Nico is the Head of the Mammalogy Department of the National Museum.