Congress makes case for design
Sunday 25 October 2009 8:54 PM
 The economic impact of health promotion by design will form the major theme at the 7th Design & Health World Congress for Design & Health in Boston in 2011.
The scientific committee for the 7th Design & Health World Congress 2011 (WCDH2011) has announced in this month’s Call for Papers, that the congress programme will focus on the economic case to be made for a greater investment in health promotion by design.
As the world comes to terms with the consequences of a global recession, including lower levels of capital investment, ever-tightening public and private purses, and the need for more preventative public health strategies as a means of containing rising healthcare costs, the financial and economic case for health promotion by design becomes ever more attractive.
Chaired by Jacqueline Vischer of the University of Montreal, the scientific committee will lead the development of the programme for the congress, which is organised by the International Academy for Design & Health in partnership with The American Institute of Architects, Academy of Architecture for Health, and supported by major academic institutions and healthcare industries worldwide.
The Call for Papers invites researchers and practitioners from around the world to submit scientific abstracts of both research and case study examples of best practice on a range of themes, including:
• The economic impact of health promotion by design
• The role of the built environment in promoting healthy living
• Evidence-based design: Defining evidence and its relationship to research
• Healthcare cost containment: The role of design
• Technology convergence: The intersection between medical technology, nanotechnology and healthcare architecture
• Places and spaces for healing
Papers that address more than one topic related to the congress will be given preferential attention. All papers will be subjected to a rigorous peer-reviewed process.
The scientific committee said: “It is increasingly important as the global economy evolves and changes for healthcare planners to understand the economic drivers of healthcare and healthcare design decisions. It is well established that increased spending on healthcare does not equate necessarily with better healthcare or
enhanced well-being.
“A salutogenic approach to environmental design is one of the most cost-effective and enduring methods of reducing illness and improving health. Central to understanding this approach is the development of a scientific research base, which illustrates and explores the relationship between human health and the environment and, even more vitally, creates a case for the rigorous application of this knowledge in professional practice.
“Our mission is to spread awareness of this important message and its value as a foundation for improving population health and well-being.”
Submitting your abstract
All proposals must include an abstract of no more than 400 words in English. The abstract should clearly state the objectives, methods used, results and conclusions. Papers will be presented to a broad audience of diverse interests, disciplines and backgrounds. Consequently, presentations should seek to focus on the practical importance of environmental design and address the congress themes.
Abstracts must be submitted by email or fax to the WCDH 2011 Secretariat by 16 April 2010. Email: academy@designandhealth.com or fax: +46 8 745 0002. All proposals are subject to blind review.
Proposals must include a title, author(s), organisational affiliation and three keywords. Abstracts chosen for presentation will be published in the WCDH 2011 final programme and book of abstracts, and full papers in World Health Design.
All abstracts will be comprehensively reviewed by the WCDH 2011 scientific committee and a select number will be chosen for oral presentation or as posters.
The authors should register and pay the registration fee in order to present the paper at the congress. Further information on the conference venue, hotel accommodation and registration fee will be provided in the preliminary programme in August 2010.
Click here or on the image above to download the WCDH 2011 Call for Papers.
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