THE ENRICO FERMI YEAR

A TRIBUTE TO THE "ITALIAN NAVIGATOR" FATHER OF THE WEAK FORCES

GALILEO GALILEI FOUNDATION
WORLD FEDERATION OF SCIENTISTS
ETTORE MAJORANA FOUNDATION AND CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC CULTURE

GALILEO GALILEI CELEBRATIONS
Four Centuries Since the Birth of Modern Science

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF ETHOLOGY

18th Workshop:

IMPACT OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR

ERICE-SICILY: 15 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2001

Sponsored by the:

• Italian Ministry of University Scientific Research and Technology
• Sicilian Regional Government

PROGRAMME AND LECTURERS

Opening Lecture: Welcome

• D. MAINARDI, University of Venice, I

Opening Lecture: Overview

• T. COLBORN, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA

Opening Lecture: Ethology and Toxicology

• S. PARMIGIANI, University of Parma, I

Ethological and Neuro-Behavioral Studies in Animal Models

• P. PALANZA, University of Parma, I
• F. FARABOLLINI, University of Florence, I
• F. DESSÌ-FULGHERI, University of Florence, I
• D. SANTUCCI, Istituto Superiore della Sanità, Rome, I
• E. ALLEVA, Istituto Superiore della Sanità, Rome, I
• M. GAHR, Vrije University Amsterdam, NL
• G. PANZICA, University of Turin, I
• C. VIGLIETTI PANZICA, University of Torino, I

Critical Periods of Exposure, Low-Dose Effects and Early Development of the Brain

• F. VOM SAAL, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
• W. WELSHONS, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
• N. McCLUSKY, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
• E. GRAY, Env. Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
• K. HOWDESHELL, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, USA
• S. PETERSEN, University of Massachussets, Amherst, MA, USA

Thyroid and Brain Interactions

• B. BROUWER, Vrije University Amsterdam, NL
• T. ZOELLER, University of Massachussets, Amherst, MA, USA
• D. SHEEHAN, Health and Human Services, Jefferson, GA, USA
• R.T. DENVER, University of Michigan, Ann Harbour, MI, USA

Human Health and Neurobehavioral Outcomes

• F. BRUCKER-DAVIS, Hospital l'Archet, Nice, F
• P. STEWART, University of Oswego, NY, USA
• P. .J. SAUER, University of Groningen, NL
• S. SWAN, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

Global Exposure and Evolutionary Perspective

• J. BROCK, National Center for Env. Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
• D. CARPENTER, University of Albany, NY, USA
• L. GUILLETTE, Environmental Protection Agency, Gainesville, FL, USA
• B. WEISS, University of Rochester, NY, USA

PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL

There are numerous chemicals being released into the environment that have the capacity to disrupt the endocrine system in developing embryos and fetuses, and these chemicals are called endocrine disruptors. One aim of this workshop is to observe the role of thyroid hormones and estrogens in the normal development of the brain and behavior to better understand the time periods in brain development that could be vulnerable to perturbation by environmental chemicals. Presentations at the meeting will include the latest state of knowledge on how hormones control brain development as well as what is known about damage to the nervous system associated with exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Our goal at the workshop is to generate a "road map" of the developing brain showing the axes and/or stages where hormones play a critical role and where contaminants could interfere. From this we will generate hypotheses for testing to address the issues and voids in knowledge concerning the role of endocrine disruption in abnormal brain, intellectual, and behavioral development. To accomplish this goal, the workshop will bring together a group of experts with diverse backgrounds working with wildlife, experimental animals and humans.

APPLICATIONS

Interested candidates should send a letter to the Director of the School:

• Professor Danilo Mainardi
  Dipartimento Scienze Ambientali
  Università di Venezia
  Campo della Celestia 2737/B Castello
  30122 VENICE, Italy
  e-mail mainardi@unive.it

specifying:

i) full name(s), address, age, nationality;
ii) present position and place of work;
iii) curriculum studiorum.

• PLEASE NOTE
  Participants must arrive in Erice on September 15, not later than 5 p.m.