A silent disaster takes place…
Over 125,000 people die each year as a result of a venomous snakebite. The number of people with severe permanent disability is two to three times higher: about 450,000 new victims every year.

The African and Asian rural areas are most affected. Many hundreds of thousands of victims remain untreated. The survivors have no guarantee of full recovery. Permanent injuries, financial and psychological problems are frequent. These burdens force families to sell what they have. Entire communities are affected.

In cooperation with partners such as Leiden University, Naturalis Biodiversity Center organizes the conference ‘Snakebite – from science to society’ on 21 and 22 June 2018 in Leiden.This multidisciplinary event aims to draw attention to this devastating, neglected tropical ‘disease’. We want to stimulate finding solutions and international action by sharing and cocreate.

Why we must act now
Our scientists conduct their research all over the world. In rural Africa and Asia we see the devastating effect of snakebites to the victims and their loved ones. We cannot stand idly by.

We know sharing our collective knowledge about this issue is key. Key for our understanding and key for advancing the practices in prevention and treatment. Sharing can open up the possibilities to cocreate practical solutions to significantly impact and improve the lives of the ones affected.

This conference aims to brings together directors, scientists, researchers, engineers, logistics experts, designers, policy advisors and many more from medical, humanitarian, societal and technical fields to share and cocreate. Together we can make a real and lasting impact in the world.

Not just for snake experts
You may not work with snakes, snake venom or in the field of medical care and first aid. But we still need your help. We do not organize a regular (scientific) conference. We are looking for experts students, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and other professionals in areas such as data science, social sciences and behaviour, biodiversity and conservation, innovative technologies, policy making or education.

By exchanging knowledge, we can create solutions that have direct impact.

Program
The conference is designed to encourage you to not only share your knowledge but to actively participate. We need your help, brain power and connections to create the most practical, easiest, cost effective solutions for the victims and their communities. What can you bring to the table to advance prevention and treatment and help bring the medicine to the people who need it the most?

Our program includes:

• inspiring keynotes,
• provocative panel discussions,
• interesting round table discussions for specific snakebite issues,
• impactful short talks,
• and engaging poster presentations by students, researchers, start-ups and organisations that have new data, ideas or solutions

on relevant subjects like production of antivenom, and new therapies, clinical aspects and treatment, logistics, conservation, public education, data collection, frontier technology and policy.

Share your knowledge and register now
More information about the conference can be found on snakebite.naturalis.nl. In order to ensure that as many professionals and students as possible can attend, we do not require registration fees, only a small contribution of € 35 per day for food and drinks.