Soon, June will be bustin’ out all over, which means it’ll be time to head to Kyoto for the World Parkinson Congress (June 4 – 7, 2019). There’s plenty to do now, though, so hang on to your hats and here’s an update!
Call for Abstracts: Deadline November 23, 2018
What’s an abstract? In this case, it’s a written description of a poster that you promise to design, combining text with visuals. The poster will be displayed at the Congress, with you standing by to answer questions. Abstracts and posters can be either scientific (if, say, you’re a medical researcher) or about some aspect of living with Parkinson’s. For more information, click here: click!
Video Competition: Deadline January 7, 2019
No matter who you are, if you have something you’d like to say about Parkinson’s in a video, submit your creation (maximum length: 3 and 1/2 minutes) and hope you win the top prize, which includes free registration to the Congress and three nights in a hotel. To learn more about the contest, and to see some of the terrific winning videos from previous years, click here: clack!
Sign Up to Volunteer: Deadline October 31, 2018
If you speak English or Japanese and are willing to volunteer in Kyoto for 5 hours/day, apply now. Perks include meal vouchers for when you’re off duty, free entry into any session when you’re not working, and “the opportunity to meet some of the most highly regarded Parkinson’s clinical researchers, basic scientists, and advocates living with Parkinson’s today.” For more info, click here: boing!
Contribute to “Soaring with Hope” Origami Crane Project: Deadline November 30, 2018
A group of artists is creating a massive art installation of 10,000 folded paper cranes, each one containing some written message of hope for people with Parkinson’s. You can contribute origami cranes yourself, or just the messages that will be written on their wings. And you’ll be entered into a raffle for a $2500 travel grant to help cover your expenses in Kyoto. For details, click here: boink!
Read the WPC Blog
It’s loaded with contributions from medical researchers, people living with PD, people caring for Parkies, and more! To get started, click here: clank!
Register Early: Deadline February 27, 2019
Prices go up February 28. Pay now and get it over with! plunk!
Apply for a Travel Grant: Deadline December 7, 2018
A limited number of travel grants are available to junior researchers, health professionals from developing parts of the world, and people with Parkinson’s. More info? Just click: zap!
Enter Your Book in the Book Nook: Deadline February 1, 2019
Have you written a book about some aspect of PD? There’ll be a “book nook” at the convention center where people can thumb through the pages, and meet you if you’re there at the time. Get the details here: kaboom!
Check Out an Early Draft of the Congress Program
Just click here: zip!
Buy Parky the Raccoon!
He’s cute, he gets along with everyone, and he loves to travel. All profits from the sale of Parkys go towards the travel grants, which help junior researchers, junior clinicians, and people with PD pay for some of their expenses in Japan. To purchase your very own Parky, click away! bzzzz!
Meanwhile, check the WPC Website regularly for updates!
I find that very interesting about the street plans in Tokyo vs. Kyoto. I remember that when I visited those cities I thought Tokyo made no sense getting around by foot. Had I not discovered that feature where you can orient yourself on Apple Maps I”m really unsure about how I would have managed (I know I definitely spun myself in circles getting from Shinjuku station to my hotel). I thought Kyoto was more “American because our cities tend to have that nice and simple grid pattern while Tokyo felt more “European because it was sprawled about. Switching gears: how were the various fire fighting units in Edo funded? Were they like a modern publicly funded fire department or was it something like a privately funded company? Were the firefighters volunteers, conscripts, or professionals?