The Thematic Network DIETS, a partner of ESPEN, will organize its second conference on September 25-26 in Frankfurt, Germany. The conference this year is particularly of interest to everyone concerned with providing practice placements to healthcare students.  While the two day programme is aimed at dieticians primarily, there is much to interest others who have the responsibility of educating future health professionals. The theme is centred on quality in placement learning, but learn more by logging to www.thematicnetworkdietetics.eu . Please note that scholarships are also available.

More than 500 abstracts (actually, 578!!) have been submitted to the next ESPEN congress in Florence, a number never reached before. It appears that the meeting in Florence will be an extraordinary opportunity to listen and discuss the latest achievements in metabolic and nutritional research. Therefore, no more doubt if attending or not. Book the date on your agenda and see you in Florence!

Also this year, 20 travel fellowships will be available to attend the ESPEN congress in Florence. There is no application to fill in, since travel fellowships will be awarded by the ESPEN Scientific Committee based on the scores received by the abstracts submitted to the Florence Congress. No more than one fellowship per country will be awarded. The first author of the best abstract submitted from the best 20 countries, provided that his/her age is less than 35 years, will be awarded and recognized during a special session of the congress.

The Adriatic Club of Clinical Nutrition is organizing its meeting in the wonderful Brijuni Islands later this month (11-13 April). Take a look at the interesting program and think about spending a relaxing yet “scientifically correct” weekend in Croatia.

Take a look at the exciting programme of the 2008 ESPEN Congress by clicking on the link “ESPEN Congress” on this webpage. Start organizing your trip to Florence to attend an outstanding scientific and cultural event.

On January 31, the third edition of the Nutritionday will take place. Almost 30,000 patients have been screened in the previous editions and the results are being used to increase the awareness of the clinical relevance of hospital malnutrition. If you have already participated in the previous editions, do not miss the opportunity to join once more the large community of doctors, dietitians, nurses and pharmacists involved in the fight against malnutrition. If you never participated, then register and give your contribution by sharing your protocols and comparing your results against the European average. The NutritionDay project consists of three audits: Nutritionday in European Hospitals, Nutritionday in ICU, and Nutritionday in Nursing Homes. This time, why not register for the three audits? For registration and more information go to www.nutritionday.org

The new year is approaching and numerous initiatives have been planed by ESPEN for the 2008. Check the website regularly for the updates. In the meanwhile, happy new year to you all.

ESPEN has recently joined DIETS as a partner. DIETS is the acronym of Dietitians Improving the Education and Training Standards. This thematic network has 100 partners from 30 European countries who all share a commitment to better nutritional health for the people of Europe. Check DIETS website for more information.

Are you planning to develop a Nutritional Support Service in your hospital? Do you want to improve the efficiency of your Service by delegating, co-operating and educating the other departments of your hospital? Take a look at the BAPEN’s web-based facility OFNoSH: it is a model of hospital nutritional organisation you may use to develop your Service. Or you may use it as a model against which existing Services can be compared.

Interested in body composition analysis? Then, you may consider to attend the 8th Symposium on in vivo Body Composition Studies (New York, July 9-12, 2008). Check the programme at www.ibc2008.com