history of EVIG
The European Veterinary Immunology Group (EVIG) was founded under the auspices of the European Federation of Immunologic Societies (EFIS) in 2001.
In 1998 the idea to found an organisation to serve the requirements of veterinary immunology was born – until then there were only personal contacts between single research groups but there was no official European meeting dedicated to veterinary immunology. EVIG came into being in 2001, and was to be a platform for communication and exchange, enhancing European research in particular. While we were not particularly keen to add new meetings to the over-crowded scientific calendar, we felt that a European Veterinary Immunology Workshop provided the best platform for direct scientific exchange.
The first European Veterinary Immunology Workshop (EVIW) was held in 2003 and it was planned that further EVIW should be held every three years, alternating with the International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS). EVIW is an international meeting that provides an optimal opportunity for intensive scientific exchange in veterinary immunology. EVIW helps to strengthen international contacts upon veterinary immunologists – students, PhDs and senior scientists, particularly in Europe. Starting with a first meeting in 2003 in Berlin with approximately 80 delegates, it has now become an important event for veterinary immunologists, with about 250 participants at the last meeting in Edinburgh.Since 2006, EVIW has been held as an independent satellite meeting to the European Congress of Immunology (ECI)
With regard to the formal organization of EVIG, it had to be taken into account that veterinary immunology did (and does) not have active or even formal groupings in most European countries (EFIS members). Accordingly, we could not build on a delegate system from which to elect our boards. The alternative we chose was to co-opt established veterinary immunologists from the scientific community in Europe. Members for the boards should be independent in their work, active in the scientific community, have experience in scientific organisations, represent various scientific areas by methods and species and their countries. Additionally, member’s states should include north, south, east and west Europe. Last but not least, many if not all farm and companion animal species including fish and wildlife should be covered.
A more detailed review on the founding of EVIG was published (Steinbach et al., 2004; Vet ImmImm, 100, 99-103).
In September 2009, EVIG was transformed into a registered society, based in Berlin, Germany (EVIG e.V.).
In 1998 the idea to found an organisation to serve the requirements of veterinary immunology was born – until then there were only personal contacts between single research groups but there was no official European meeting dedicated to veterinary immunology. EVIG came into being in 2001, and was to be a platform for communication and exchange, enhancing European research in particular. While we were not particularly keen to add new meetings to the over-crowded scientific calendar, we felt that a European Veterinary Immunology Workshop provided the best platform for direct scientific exchange.
The first European Veterinary Immunology Workshop (EVIW) was held in 2003 and it was planned that further EVIW should be held every three years, alternating with the International Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS). EVIW is an international meeting that provides an optimal opportunity for intensive scientific exchange in veterinary immunology. EVIW helps to strengthen international contacts upon veterinary immunologists – students, PhDs and senior scientists, particularly in Europe. Starting with a first meeting in 2003 in Berlin with approximately 80 delegates, it has now become an important event for veterinary immunologists, with about 250 participants at the last meeting in Edinburgh.Since 2006, EVIW has been held as an independent satellite meeting to the European Congress of Immunology (ECI)
With regard to the formal organization of EVIG, it had to be taken into account that veterinary immunology did (and does) not have active or even formal groupings in most European countries (EFIS members). Accordingly, we could not build on a delegate system from which to elect our boards. The alternative we chose was to co-opt established veterinary immunologists from the scientific community in Europe. Members for the boards should be independent in their work, active in the scientific community, have experience in scientific organisations, represent various scientific areas by methods and species and their countries. Additionally, member’s states should include north, south, east and west Europe. Last but not least, many if not all farm and companion animal species including fish and wildlife should be covered.
A more detailed review on the founding of EVIG was published (Steinbach et al., 2004; Vet ImmImm, 100, 99-103).
In September 2009, EVIG was transformed into a registered society, based in Berlin, Germany (EVIG e.V.).