The phenomenon of twins

Dear colleagues!

Applications are accepted for the Annual International Scientific and Practical Conference 2010 "The Phenomenon of twins: genetic and psychological aspects", which will be held on May 20-21, 2010 in the premises of the Smolny Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia.

About the conferenceThe International Charitable Foundation "Twins of the World" St. Petersburg, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Northwestern Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (MAPO St. Petersburg), Smolny Institute of the Russian Academy of Education St. Petersburg State University (St. Petersburg State University) holds the first conference in 2010 and is preparing to hold in June next year, the second conference, the range of issues of which will be supplemented with sociological, pedagogical and other aspects of the study of the twin phenomenon.

The scientific study of the phenomenon of twins is essential both for the development of science and for the life support, health, and spiritual development of the twins themselves. The 2010 conference was devoted to the most important areas of research – genetic and psychological aspects.

The first day of the conference will be opened with reports by outstanding scientists: the chairman of the conference, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, prof. V.S.Baranov, co-chairman of the Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, prof. S.G.Inge-Vechtomov, co-chairman of prof. V.A.Vinokur. Other well-known experts are also among the speakers.

The scientific program of the conference will be implemented at plenary and breakout sessions, a round table. Following the results of the conference, materials and reports will be published in the journal of the Higher Attestation Commission "Ecological Genetics" of St. Petersburg State University, the collection of conference materials and electronic publications. The conference participants will also meet at the "Gemini Holiday" on the first evening of the conference.

Organizing Committee:

1. Chairman of the conference: V.S. Baranov, Professor, Chief Specialist of St. Petersburg in Medical Genetics, Head of the Laboratory of the D.O.Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the North-Western Branch of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
2. Co-Chair: Inge-Vechtomov S. G., Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, Doctor of Biology, Head of the Department of Genetics and Breeding of St. Petersburg State University
3. Co-chair: Vinokur V. A. MD, Professor of the Department of Medical Psychology of the St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (MAPO SPb), President of the Balint Society
4. Babokhin M.A., President of the International Charitable Foundation "Twins of the World"
5. Noskin L.A., Doctor of Biological Sciences, Member of the Board of Trustees of the "Twins of the World" Foundation, leading researcher of the ONRB of the Russian Academy of Sciences
6. Dubina M.V., Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MD, Prof. Head of the Department and Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology of St. Petersburg Academic University (St. Petersburg AU FT REC NT RAS)
7. Glotov O.S., Candidate of Biological Sciences, senior researcher from the Laboratory of prenatal diagnostics of the Research Institute of IAG named after D.O.Ott of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
8. Gubanova G.I., Conference Coordinator, Public Relations, K.isc.

Main dates:The deadline for submitting applications and abstracts is April 26, 2010, Monday, until 18.00.

For those who will be published only in the conference proceedings, the deadline for submitting the full text of the report is May 20.
Payment of contributions for speakers – until May 15 (until April 26 – preferential)
For those who plan to publish in the journal of the Higher Attestation Commission "Ecological Genetics", the deadline for submitting applications, abstracts and the full text of the report is March 20.
The decision on the publication of the reports will be made taking into account the results of the review.
The form of submission of the manuscript is on the website of the journal "Ecological Genetics".
Press conference – approximately April 27, 2010, Tuesday
The electronic collection of the conference will be released in June 2010.
"Ecological Genetics" and the collection of the conference will be published in the fall of 2010. The collection will be sent to nonresident speakers by mail.

Requirements for applications:The report submitted to the conference must contain the results of an original scientific or scientific-practical research.

The last name, first name, patronymic of the speaker, place of work and position, contact address, tel., fax and e-mail, title of the proposed report, academic degree must be indicated in the application for presentation as speakers.

The application must be accompanied by a detailed abstract (theses) of the proposed speech in Word or RTF format with a volume of 1 to 3 typewritten pages at 1.5 intervals (up to 7,000 characters). The abstract should disclose the topic, show the degree of development of the problem, give the characteristics of the study (theoretical or empirical work, on which information base), and also outline the main results obtained. Applications with abstracts that do not reflect the main provisions of the speech, as well as a volume of less than 1 page, are not accepted.

The decision of the Organizing Committee to include specific reports in the conference program will be made no later than May 30, 2010 on the basis of an expert examination with the involvement of independent experts.

Technical capabilities: the speakers will be provided with a computer and a multimedia projector. In case of using other technical means, please contact the Organizing Committee in advance. The recommended sizes for the poster presentation are A1.

Program:The first day of the conference, May 20:

The grand opening.  Speeches by the chairman of the conference, sponsors, politicians, the president of the foundation. Plenary and sectional reports. Cultural program, evening – "Gemini Holiday" (buffet)

The second day:
Plenary and sectional reports. Round table. Closing of the conference. Departure of the participants.

The program will be formed taking into account the proposals of the conference participants, who can apply for the formation of the sections headed by them and the selection of their participants. The section heads will be provided with preferential conditions for participation in the conference by the organizing committee.

Venue: Russia, Saint Petersburg
The working languages of the conference are Russian and English. Simultaneous translation.

Regulations:
Plenary reports – 20 minutes, sectional – 15 minutes (including presentation of material, answers to questions and discussion – 5 minutes).
The duration of the presentation of the report at the session is 20 minutes. Presentations within the framework of the round table – approximately 5-7 minutes.

Registration fee (including abstracts, conference program, other handouts, coffee break):
For foreign participants – US$ 60;
For Russian participants: preferential price of 900 rubles – up to and including April 26, 1000 rubles – after April 26;
Travel, accommodation, meals at your own expense, except for persons specially invited by the organizing committee. 
Information about payment methods: twinsinfo@yandex.ru
Employees of federal and regional executive authorities, local self-government bodies, as well as persons specially invited by the Organizing Committee of the conference are exempt from paying the organizational fee.

The Gemini Foundation is implementing the TWINSTOUR project – Tourist services for Gemini (tours for cultural recreation, business tours).
The project is carried out jointly with the travel agency "Astrea" (Rosinturburo) Saint Petersburg, tel. (812) 317-80-94, twinsinfotur@yandex.ru

For those who apply to this address (twins or conference participants) and inform that they want to come or stay under the TWINSTOUR program, there are benefits, favorable accommodation for accommodation, assistance from the Foundation in organizational and other matters, a special cultural program of gemini communication.

Accommodation: hotel "Saint Petersburg" (options). Transportation from the hotel to the conference venue and back.

Contact information:
For correspondence and applications, use the following address: twinsinfo@yandex.ru
(among other things, you can get acquainted with the information on the procedure for submitting reports, the placement of participants and the conference registration fees).
Coordinator of the Annual International Scientific and Practical Conference
"The phenomenon of twins: genetic and psychological aspects"
Galina Igorevna Gubanova, Candidate of Art History, 
+7 (812)-273-52-77, 8-911-08-46-246
twinsinfo@yandex.ru, ggubanova@gmail.com