The International Society for Agricultural Safety and Health (ISASH) invites abstract submissions for the 2020 Annual Conference in Asheville, North Carolina USA, to be held June 22–26, 2020. The conference theme is “2020: A Vision of Farm Safety and Health." Abstracts are accepted in the following categories: 

• Oral presentations (completed research and ongoing research)
• Panel/Roundtable Presentations
• Educational Displays
• Program Posters
• Research Posters

Please review the following information and select the format that is appropriate for your proposed presentation. In addition to the presentation, all presenters have the option to submit a Technical Paper on their presentation. 

Conference Audience

ISASH conferences are designed for professionals and practitioners interested in agricultural health and safety research, education, practice, and policy.  ISASH members and conference participants represent a growing number of countries. Conference language is English. 

Topics of Interest

ISASH encourages presentations on specific safety and health issues as they apply in agricultural settings. ISASH Issue Committees have expressed particular interest in presentations related to the topics listed below. However, abstracts on other topics will also be considered.  

• Emerging Issues: new technologies, exposures, research methods and outreach concepts; effects of climate change, and effects of changes in agriculture and health policies on agricultural safety and health
• Health Issues: respiratory, hearing, musculoskeletal, cancer, mental health, aging, access to health care, response to avian influenza
• Safety Issues: injuries, cumulative trauma, ergonomics, machinery automation, presence sensing technology, guarding, prevention, intervention
• Knowledge Mobilization: resource sharing, best practices for educational dissemination, metrics for evaluating programs, and use of online resources including National Ag Safety Database (NASD), and eXtension
• Special Populations: fishing workforce, migrant workers, returning veterans in agricultural workplaces, farmers with disabilities, new/beginning farmers and workers, elderly farmers and workers, and children on the farm 
• North Carolina Populations: abstracts with a focus on safety in military, fisheries, and forestry settings are especially welcome given North Carolina’s industrial base

Student Submissions

ISASH is committed to facilitating the development of future agricultural health and safety professionals and researchers. For this reason, students are strongly encouraged to submit their research to ISASH on the topics noted above. In addition to presenting research, students will have the opportunity for professional development and networking. An award will be presented to honor Outstanding Research presented by a student. 

Oral Presentation Categories 

Oral Presentations

Oral presentations should report results from completed research or ongoing research (research in progress) or prevention activities (educational programs) that are pertinent to the ISASH audience. ISASH promotes the interaction between research and practice. Therefore, presenters are asked to describe how their findings apply to practice in the field. Oral presentations may describe local, regional, national, or international work. Presenters should follow accepted professional conference practices. This includes avoiding jargon; describing abbreviations of organizations, and using internationally recognized measurement units. The program committee will place oral presentations into breakout sessions with common themes. Presentation time is typically 15 minutes plus 5 minutes for discussion. 

Abstracts for oral presentations are due February 28, 2020—abstracts that arrive after this date will be considered for presentation as research or program posters

Authors of accepted oral presentations will be given the opportunity to also submit a technical paper to accompany their presentation. For more information on the technical paper submission process, please see the information under “Technical Papers”. 

Panel/Roundtable Presentations

Authors may request a panel or roundtable session to discuss a broader topic that has particular importance for ISASH members. The Panel/Roundtable leader should submit one abstract for the session that explains the overall theme and lists all presenters involved in the presentation along with information regarding what each participant will be contributing. The duration of a Panel/Roundtable session is typically one hour. 

Abstracts for panel/roundtable oral presentations are due February 28, 2020.

Educational Displays and Posters

Educational Displays

Educational displays are encouraged, highlighting a product or service that has interest/value for conference participants and ISASH members. Educational displays may be the appropriate format for organizations to present a product, service, demonstration, or item that should be demonstrated with samples or materials that could not be effectively presented in other formats. This category applies to public and private sector organizations. Vendors of commercial products like personal protective equipment should contact the organizing committee regarding display space. 

Abstracts for educational displays are due March 27, 2020 

Program Posters

This category encourages discussion of programs aiming to improve the health and safety in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Programs could involve: education; information dissemination; communication; campaigns; delivery of occupational health services; producer and commodity group programs; agribusiness and insurance initiatives; child, youth, and school activities; programs for minorities and vulnerable populations; and other programs aiming to improve the safety and health of diverse populations. 

Abstracts for program posters are due March 27, 2020. 

Research Posters

This category encourages the presentation of results from completed research or ongoing research (research in progress) or prevention activities (educational programs) that are pertinent to the ISASH audience in a printed poster format. Posters are typically displayed throughout the conference and specific poster session times will be assigned in the program. 

Abstracts for research posters are due March 27, 2020. 

Summary of the deadlines for abstracts (tentative)

Oral Presentations

Posters and Educational Displays

All abstracts are peer-reviewed by ISASH Professional Improvement Committee or experts selected by the committee. The review uses the following criteria:

1. Significance of the topic/problem to agriculture, forestry, and fishing 
2. Innovation and novelty of the concept, method, program or intervention
3. Contribution to science and/or practice in agricultural safety and health 
4. Technical quality of the abstract including: writing style, language, and clarity of describing the need, purpose, objectives, methods, program/project features, findings, conclusions, and practical field applications

If you have any questions please contact Gretchen Mosher or Steve Freeman, Co-Chairs, PI Committee:

• Gretchen: gamosher@iastate.edu or 515 294 6416
• Steve: sfreeman@iastate.edu or 515 294 9541
  

Technical Papers

Authors of accepted oral presentations will be given the opportunity to also submit a technical paper to accompany their presentation. A technical paper should report results from completed research or program activities as described in the accepted abstract and should follow the common format for technical papers (e.g. Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusions).  In the conclusion of the paper, authors are asked to describe how their findings apply to practice in the field. 

The maximum length of a Technical paper is 10 pages, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, and with no font smaller than 11-point. A cover page with the ISASH logo and template information will be provided to authors who indicate an interest in submitting a technical paper. Technical papers are peer-reviewed by ISASH Professional Improvement Committee and published by ISASH online. Technical Papers are due by May 15, 2020. After peer review, authors will be notified of acceptance by May 29, 2020 and provided with reviewer comments. Revised final versions of technical papers are due no later than June 12, 2020 to be published in the online ISASH Technical Paper series. All Technical Papers received by the deadlines will be reviewed and considered for ISASH Research Awards administered by the ISASH Research and Development Committee. 

Call for Abstracts