Join in! Submit an abstract for the IFLA World Congress 2011 Zurich, Switzerland, June 27–29 2011

“Scales of Nature” - From Urban Landscapes to Alpine Gardens
THE WORLD CONGRESS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
The IFLA World Congress is an international professional congress to be held in Zurich that is expected to be attended by more than 700 professionals and students from the fields of landscape architecture, landscape planning, research and associated professions from throughout the world to discuss current topics, exchange experiences and establish contacts. During the three days of the Congress, keynote lectures will take place in the morning and in depth sessions in the afternoon.
With this “Call”, we invite you to submit an abstract of a paper presentation as a pro-posal of your own contribution to the conference.
The accepted papers will be presented and discussed in “parallel sessions” as well as pub-lished in the Congress’ Proceedings.
Please submit the abstract of your paper by November 30th 2010 via our website: www.ifla2011.com.

The Congress topic
“Scales of Nature – From Urban Landscapes to Alpine Gardens”
Based on our understanding today, landscapes are characterised by the multifaceted interac-tion of different layers. On the one hand ancient, natural landscapes are coming under pres-sure. Due to our changing recreational and leisure needs, they are being reshaped, usurped and converted in either a subtle or even volatile transformation process. On the other hand, artificial areas of nature are being created by humans in urban environments, permeated by different topologies, criteria and gradations. Bearing the name “Scales of Nature”, the 48th IFLA World Congress in Zurich is devoted to the fluctuating range of topics between artificial and grown nature and to the sustainable development of the landscape for a more enhanced quality of life.
While the first day is all about urban landscapes, the second day of the Congress deals with the peri-urban phenomenon in urban agglomerations and the third day concerns specific issues relating to rural land and its changes.

Aim of the Congress
At the forefront will be the debate on the general concept of landscape, which will encom-pass all facets of the environment and the interaction between man, nature and landscape. In particular, the organizers will strive to have an inspiring exchange between landscape ar-chitects working in research, planning and design.

Target audience
All practising landscape architects, students and people working in landscape architecture, landscape development, land-use planning, urban planning, architecture, construction, for-estry and agricultural engineering, land art, ministries and offices for the environment and urban development, department for parks, gardens and open spaces, the media and inter-ested members of the public.

Congress language
The official language of the conference is English. No simultaneous interpreting will be of-fered.

Proposals of own contributions to the Congress
1. Content requirements
Within the three central topics (urban, peri-urban and rural), 16 parallel sessions (you can find the description of the sessions at www.ifla2011.com) will take place on the following sub-ject areas:
– spatial design
– interaction, collaboration, participation
– sustainable development
– management and planning
– culture and identity
Your paper must focus on one or more of these five subject areas and must show a reference to the central topics.
Of course, comparative papers are also possible. A special parallel session will be dedicated for that each day.

2. Submission of the abstracts
Please submit the abstract of the paper to be presented (research, case study, design pres-entation or other) in electronic format (maximum 3,000 characters, including spaces), includ-ing all pictures and graphics via our website www.ifla2011.com by November 30th 2010.
In the online form, please select the session which your abstract is the most relevant to so that we can undertake the most meaningful assignment of the papers to the sessions.

3. Evaluation of the abstracts and decision regarding the acceptance of the pa-pers
Your abstract will be reviewed anonymously by two independent specialists. Based on their assessment and in view of a well-balanced conference programme, the programme commis-sion will then decide whether your paper can be accepted and the corresponding presenta-tion can be included in the programme. You will be notified about the decision regarding the acceptance or rejection via e-mail by no later than the middle of February 2011.

4. Inclusion in the Congress’ Proceedings
Before the papers are included in the Congress’ Proceedings, the abstracts of the accepted papers must be revised by the authors on the basis of the reviewers' comments. However, an abstract will be published only if at least one of the authors of the abstract has registered for the Congress and has paid the attendance fees.

5. Oral presentation in a parallel session
The duration of the presentation of the paper will be 15 minutes (plus 5 minutes of discussion time). For that, you will be provided with a laptop with a video projector and the necessary software, i.e. the 2007 version of Microsoft PowerPoint.

6. Presentation in the form of posters
If the number of the submitted abstracts that would merit to be accepted as presentations at the conference exceeds the maximum number of contributions that can be included into the parallel sessions, the organizers reserve the right to accept submitted paper abstracts in the form of poster contributions.

Deadlines
1. November 30th 2010
Deadline for the submission of the abstracts

2. Middle of February 2011
Feedback of the programme commission on the submit-ted abstracts (either acceptance as oral or poster pres-entation or rejection) and information about the further course of action (revision of the abstracts of accepted presentations)

3. Middle of March 2011
Deadline for the submission of the revised abstracts

4. June 27–29 2011
Oral presentation within the parallel sessions or in the form of posters

Contact
Address:
IFLA World Congress 2011
c/o Stadt Zürich
Grün Stadt Zürich
Beatenplatz 2
CH-8001 Zurich
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)44 412 24 87
Fax: +41 (0)44 212 09 38
E-mail: info@ifla2011.com

Contact person:
Mr Hayal Oezkan

Further information
For further information on the Congress, the supporting programme, accomodations, sponsorship, organization committeee, programme commission, etc. as well as on registering for the Congress, please visit www.ifla2011.com.