MEDIA ADVISORY - Ecohealth in a complex world: Policy's holy grail?

OTTAWA, Nov. 18 /CNW/ - From tackling parasites in Nepal, to mercury poisoning in the Amazon, to addressing food insecurity across the globe, Canada is changing how the world thinks about health and the environment. Canadian researchers have been at the forefront of global thinking on ecohealth, which  explores how human health can be protected and improved through more sustainable ecosystem management. One of the founders of ecohealth, Dr. David Waltner-Toews, will be at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) November 24 to discuss how this new scientific discipline is leading to better policies and practices in both Canada and the developing world.

When: Wednesday November 24, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: IDRC, 150 Kent Street (Corner of Albert), 8th floor, Ottawa, ON

David Waltner-Toews is founding president of Veterinarians without Borders and the Network for Ecosystem Sustainability and Health.  A professor at the University of Guelph, his research expertise includes emerging diseases, ecohealth, and epidemiology.  His publications include Ecosystem Sustainability and Health: A Practical Approach; Integrated Assessment of Health and Sustainability of Agroecosytems; and the popular Food, Sex and Salmonella: Why our Food is Making us Sick.  Waltner-Toews recently received the inaugural award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Ecohealth from the International Association for Ecology and Health.

With the support of Canada's IDRC, ecohealth is evolving to respond to new environmental challenges that are affecting human health and ecosystems, thus impeding human and economic development.

Waltner-Toews' lecture is the thirteenth in the Speakers of Renown series, which is being held throughout 2010 to mark IDRC's 40^th anniversary. 

The event is open to the media. French and English simultaneous interpretation is available. Spaces are limited and journalists are encouraged to register by calling Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé at 613-696- 2343 or e-mailing at [email protected]. 

Journalists and the public can join in the conversation through Twitter (#IDRC) and Facebook.  For more information and the live webcast, visit www.idrc.ca/events-toews. 

About IDRC
To achieve self-reliance, poor communities need answers to questions like: How can we grow more and healthier food? Protect our health? Create jobs? IDRC supports research in developing countries to answer these questions. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most.

For further information:

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé / ([phone] / [email protected]