Wednesday, November 25, 2015

HICSA : Reportback on conferences incl.ICAHIS 8, Edinburgh 2015

At the HICSA meeting held on 20 November 2015 Marguerite Nel reported on conferences she attended in Edinbugh, June 2015.
EAHIL, ICAHIS and ICLC.



I was fortunate to attend the European Association for Health Information and Libraries (EAHIL), the International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists (ICAHIS), and International Clinical Librarian Conference (ICLC) Workshop in Edinburgh from 9 to 12 June 2015. The Workshop was a collaboration between the EAHIL, ICAHIS, and the ICLC. The theme of the Workshop wasResearch-Minded: understanding, supporting, conducting research.

The aim of the EAHIL Workshop was to equip participants with a greater understanding of, and practical skills in, research approaches and methods. The rationale behind this theme was that an understanding and experience of research will enable librarians to improve their support to clinicians, researchers, lecturers and students. Several topics were presented in different workshop sessions. These include, among others, the following:  communication skills, mixed methods, qualitative methods, quantitative methods, research data management, and systematic reviews.  The format of the workshop sessions was participative and practical.  

Keynote speakers emphasised the importance of research and the role of the library as an essential partner in knowledge creation.
The ICAHIS was a satellite conference of the Workshop, and presented on Tuesday, 9 June, at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus. This was the eighth ICAHIS, which is a highlight every time for veterinary librarians around the globe.

I was also fortunate to attend a Historical tour of veterinary education in Edinburgh, led by the really delightful Colin Warwick and Alastair MacDonald. This was a walking tour through the historical part of Edinburgh, along all sites relevant to and of interest of the development of veterinary medicine in Edinburgh.

The workshops and ICAHIS conference were both excellent learning opportunities and I gained numerous new knowledge on topics, formerly not very familiar to me.

Marguerite showed some photos of the ICAHIS meeting including scenes of beautiful Edinburgh.


http://www.library.up.ac.za/newsletter/libnewsautumnwinter2015/Libnew3.jpg

Saturday, November 21, 2015

SKILLS LABORATORY ONDERSTEPOORT CAMPUS University of Pretoria (HICSA meeting 20 November 2015)

The HICSA meeting of 20 November 2015 included a tour of the new Skills Laboratory at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pretoria. This is a state-of-the-art facility where veterinary students can practice skills in examining animals including taking blood smears, bandaging limbs and doing rectal examinations of large production animals. We enjoyed the visit and the interesting explanations given by our guide, Dr Elrien Scheepers.




Friday, November 20, 2015

HICSA : Saving the survivors : Surgical treatment of Rhinos after losing their horns to poachers

What an interesting talk on Saving the Survivors given by Dr Gerhard Steenkamp today at the HICSA meeting (20 November 2015)  
www.savingthesurvivors.org
After poachers have sawn or hacked off the horns of the rhinos he and his team try to save the rhino by treating the wounds enabling those that survive to continue their lives and some even manage to breed - this is the ultimate aim of the organisation, hopefully delaying the extinction of the species.


HICSA meeting 20 November 2015

HICSA meeting 20 November 2015

You are kindly invited to the next meeting of the Health Information Community of South Africa (HICSA), which is going to take place in the newly built Skills Lab Building, on the Onderstepoort Campus, University of Pretoria, on Friday, 20 November 2015 from 9:00 till lunch time. Our guest speakers will be Drs Gerhard Steenkamp and Johan Marais on the work their Saving the Survivors organisation is doing regarding Rhinos in South Africa. You are also invited to participate in a tour of the recently launched, state-of-the-art skills laboratory.  The proceedings will be concluded with a light lunch.
A detailed agenda will be sent to you closer to the date.
 
RSVP: On or before Monday, 16 November 2015 - Marguerite: 012 529 8474 or marguerite.nel@up.ac.za
 
Please invite other professionals in the field of health information to also attend the meeting and join the HICSA community.
 
Your attendance will be highly appreciated.