Abstract
We will explore some interesting online material regarding Heinrich Harrer, followed by the usual compendium of upcoming conferences.
Heinrich Harrer is famous in the mountaineering world for being one of the four climbers who made the first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger. He is better known to most non-climbers as the author of Seven Years in Tibet, a recounting of his escape from a British internment camp in India at the outset of World War II, 21-month walk across Tibet, his experiences tutoring the Dalai Lama, and his ultimate integration into Tibetan society.
Obituary, The Times
Mr. Harrer died on January 6, 2006 at the age of 93. His obituary in The Times provides a well-rounded view of his life's triumphs and challenges. Contact:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article786458.ece
My Life in Forbidden Lhasa
Originally published in the July 1955 National Geographic, the summary of Mr. Harrer's experiences in Tibet is a really good read, and includes a photo gallery of the images that were printed with the article. Contact:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/tibetans/harrer-text
Heinrich Harrer Museum
Heinrich Harrer donated great parts of his ethnological collection to Hüttenberg, where he was born. Objects from Tibet, from other Himalayan countries, from South America, Africa, New Guinea and Borneo, as well as Harrer's expedition equipment and photographs of his life are on display. For those who cannot visit in person, the web site (primarily in German) has links to digital images of the photographs and documents that are in the museum. Contact:
Heinrich Harrer Limited Edition Portfolio
The site primarily exists to market a limited edition portfolio of 10 signed archival prints selected by Harrer from his “Seven Years in Tibet, 1944–1951” exhibition. However, the site is worth visiting for the photos, which are viewable on the site along with short commentaries on each. Additionally, there is some brief biographical information, and a video clip of the Dalai Lama and Heinrich Harrer being interviewed in 1993. Contact:
Upcoming Conferences
Physiological Society 2011 Meetings
The Physiological Society has a series of meetings throughout 2011, in various locations in the United Kingdom. The range of topics covered is quite diverse and will be of interest to those working to understand the inner machinery of the hypoxic cell. Contact:
American Physiological Society (Experimental Biology)
The annual Experimental Biology meeting features the latest advances in physiology with a wide range of topics of interest to High Altitude Medicine and Biology readers. This is the premiere physiology meeting in the United States. In 2011, Experimental Biology will be held in Washington, D.C., April 9–13. Contact:
American Academy of Neurology
The AAN Annual Meeting, one of the world's largest gatherings of neurology professionals, brings together more than 10,000 neurologists and neuroscientists to share groundbreaking research and participate in a comprehensive curriculum-based educational program. The 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology is set for April 9–16, 2011, at the Hawaii Convention Center in the heart of beautiful Honolulu. Contact:
International Society of Travel Medicine
The biennial ISTM conferences are established as the leading venue for the practice and science of the discipline of travel medicine. The 12th ISTM conference will be held May 8–12, 2011, in Boston. Contact:
American Thoracic Society International Conference
The ATS is committed to disseminating the latest advances, nationally and internationally, in the fields of lung disease, sleep disorders and critical care medicine. The annual International Conference has become the premier international forum for physicians and scientists who work in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. The 2011 conference will be held May 13–18 in Denver, Colorado. Contact:
Brain’11 & BrainPET’11
Ideal for people interested in the brain-hypoxia link, the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism sponsors a pair of international symposia, which are held every other year. The 25th International Symposium on Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, and the 10th International Conference on Quantification of Brain Function with PET (also known as Brain’11 and BrainPET’11) will be held in Barcelona, Spain on May 24–28, 2011. Contact:
American College of Sports Medicine Annual Conference
You will find a great deal of integrative physiology at the annual American College of Sports Medicine meeting. This seems to be one of the more active forums for exercise-altitude interactions, and a host of other topics of interest to high altitude physiologists. The 2011 annual meeting topic is “Exercise is Medicine”; it will be held May 31–June 4 in Denver, Colorado. Contact:
53rd Annual American Headache Society Scientific Meeting
Bringing together physicians and other health providers from various fields and specialties to share concepts and developments about headache and related conditions, the 2011 annual scientific meeting will be held in Washington DC, June 2–5. Contact:
15th Congress of the International Headache Society
The 15th Congress of the International Headache Society will be held on June 23–26, 2011, in Berlin, Germany. Contact:
European College of Sport Science Annual Congress
The 16th annual congress of the ECSS will be held in Liverpool, UK, July 6–9; the theme is “New Horizons in Sports Sciences.” Contact:
8th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience
The International Brain Research Organization will hold the 8th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience in Florence, Italy July 14–18, 2011. Contact:
International Society on Oxygen Transport to Tissue (ISOTT)
The International Society on Oxygen Transport to Tissue is an interdisciplinary society comprising about 250 members worldwide. Its purpose is to further the understanding of all aspects of the processes involved in the transport of oxygen from the air to its ultimate consumption in the cells of the various organs of the body. The annual meeting brings together scientists, engineers, clinicians and mathematicians in a unique international forum for the exchange of information and knowledge, the updating of participants on latest developments and techniques, and the discussion of controversial issues within the field of oxygen transport to tissue. ISOTT2011 will be held in Washington, DC July 24–27, 2011. Contact:
Wilderness Medical Society
Founded in 1983, the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) is the world's leading organization devoted to wilderness medical challenges. Wilderness medicine topics include expedition and disaster medicine, dive medicine, search and rescue, altitude illness, cold- and heat-related illness, wilderness trauma, and wild animal attacks. WMS explores health risks and safety issues in extreme situations such as mountains, jungles, deserts, caves, marine environments, and space. Their annual meetings are a forum for a broad diversity of research topics and are a great place to connect with other people of like interests. The 2011 annual meeting will be held July 29–Aug 3, in Snowmass, Colorado. Contact:
European Federation of Neurological Societies
The 15th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) provides an unmatched opportunity for participants to join over 4,500 colleagues to study and disseminate the latest research. Discover current clinical practices and treatments, and be an integral part of the central network of neurology in Europe. The congress will be held September 10–13, 2011, in Budapest, Hungary. Contact:
http://www.efns.org/15th-EFNS-Congress-Budapest-2011.286.0.html
ExpedMed 2011
The Expedition Medicine National Conference provides an excellent educational opportunity for medical professionals interested in practicing in remote or extreme environments, or consulting on patients returning from these locations. ExpedMed 2011 will be held in Washington DC, September 16–18. Contact:
European Respiratory Society Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society to be held in Amsterdam, Netherlands from September 24–28, 2011, features many topics related to high altitude medicine and biology. Contact:
http://www.ersnet.org/index.php/congresses/amsterdam-2011.html
NAVBO 2011
The North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) will hold its 2011 annual meeting in Hyannis, Massachusetts, October 16–20, 2011. Topics include workshops in vascular biology, biology of signaling in the cardiovascular system, and vascular matrix biology and bioengineering. Contact:
European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations
The conference will provide health care professionals from around the globe with the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about new achievements in the area of sports medicine. The 7th European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations Congress will be held October 26—29, 2011, in Salzburg. Contact:
Neuroscience 2011
For people interested in brain-hypoxia interactions, the Society for Neuroscience is the world's largest organization of scientists and physicians dedicated to understanding the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Their annual meeting, considered the most important annual forum for the neuroscience research community, will be held this year in Washington DC, November 12–16. Contact:
World Congress of Neurology
The World Congress of Neurology (WCN) has been the world's largest scientific event in neurology for over half a century. Doctors from various disciplines, together with neuroscientists, have collaborated in the organization of the best academic curriculum at preceding congresses and have contributed greatly to the worldwide neuroscience community.
The next WCN will be held in Marrakesh, Morocco November 12–17, 2011 and will be hosted by The Neurological Society of Morocco under the congress theme “With Africa, for Africa.” The main purpose of this congress is to provide neurologists in Africa with a unique opportunity to join colleagues from around the world for the largest scientific event in neurology. Discover scientific achievements and interact with delegates of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to find real solutions to improve the long-term outcomes for patients with neurological disorders. Contact:
Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine
The Society for Free Radical Biology & Medicine (formerly The Oxygen Society) was established in response to a growing recognition of the “dark side” of oxygen as a major issue for the life sciences. According to the “Oxygen Paradox,” oxygen is both necessary for aerobic life and toxic to all life forms. This group is concerned with the role played by free radicals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in disease, which is also a growing area of interest in altitude illness research. SFRBM'S 18th Annual Meeting is November 16–20, in Atlanta, Georgia.
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), founded in 1903, is a worldwide organization of scientists, clinicians, and program professionals whose mission is to promote global health through the prevention and control of infectious and other diseases that disproportionately afflict the global poor. Research, health care, and education are the central activities of ASTMH members, whose work bridges basic laboratory research to international field work and clinics to country-wide programs. The ASTMH 60th Annual Meeting will be held December 4–8, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contact:
http://www.astmh.org/Future_Meetings.htm
—Thomas Dietz
Please send suggestions/comments for High Altitude Web to tdietz@gorge.net