First CALL for PAPERS

First CALL FOR PAPERS

8th Annual Oppenheimer – De Beers Group Research Conference

Since 2010, 7 successful Annual Oppenheimer De Beers Group Research Conferences have been held. This is the first announcement for the 8th Annual Research Conference at the De Beers Corporate Headquarters in Ormonde, Johannesburg on Tuesday, 17th and Wednesday, 18th October 2017. Registration will take place on the Tuesday morning. This conference will be hosted by E Oppenheimer & Son and the De Beers Group.

Anyone wishing to attend the conference is requested to email a completed Registration Form to [email protected].

Registration forms can also be downloaded from the following website www.diamondroute.com.

All parties that have conducted research on any of the Oppenheimer – De Beers Group properties (Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, Telperion, Rooipoort Nature Reserve, Tswalu Kalahari, Benfontein, Dronfield, Wakefield, Brenthurst Garden, Orapa Makgadikgadi, Namaqualand and the Kimberley Big Hole) as well as other sites within the De Beers Group and E Oppenheimer & Son, are encouraged to attend and present papers at the conference.

The objectives of this conference are to provide a platform to:

 Share the outcomes of a range of research projects that have taken place across these properties and other sites within the De Beers Group of Companies and E Oppenheimer & Son.  Provide an opportunity for students and researchers to present their outcomes and findings to a diverse audience of academics, students and environmental managers as well as members of the media.  Provide a networking opportunity for the site managers and researchers as well as  guide future research and post-graduate opportunities across Oppenheimer and De Beers Group sites.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Day 1: Tuesday, 17th October 2017 Day 2: Wednesday, 18th October 2017

08:30 – 17:00 08:30 – 15:00

Registration Registration

Presentations & Poster session. Presentations & Poster session.

Conference Cocktail Function, De Beers Corporate Closure Headquarters CALL FOR PAPERS

We would like to have presentations on any form of research conducted on either Oppenheimer and De Beers Group sites relating to ecology, species-level or ecosystem level studies, archaeology, paleontology, cultural, tourism and social research. The Conference will comprise both oral and poster presentations. The oral presentations will be 15 minutes in length with an additional 5 minutes for questions and handover. There will be sessions during the Conference programme dedicated for poster viewing.

Those interested in presenting should submit an informative title and abstract as per the guideline given below for consideration by the conference organizers.

A floating trophy for best oral presentation and poster will be given on 19 th October after the final presentation.

GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATIONS:

In order to streamline the editing and formatting of the Conference Programme and later proceedings, authors are asked to adhere to the following guidelines when submitting abstracts for presentations and posters.

Title – The title of the presentation/poster should be brief and given in font size 14 bold.

Authors – The author(s) name(s), organization(s) and email address (es), should be given as follows:

A N Author1 and A Co-Author2 (Presenting author underlined)

1University of the Witwatersrand, De Beers Consolidated Mines, [email protected]

2 Venetia Mine, De Beers Consolidated Mines, [email protected]

Abstract Content – Abstracts should provide brief, factual information about the objectives, and main results and conclusions of the work. Abstracts should be no more than 100 words in length.

Presentation Content – Microsoft PowerPoint is preferred for oral presentations. Presentations should be highly visual with limited text and brief (preferably no more than 15 slides), as time limits will be strictly adhered to. Video and or sound links must preferably be in .mp4 format and links must be checked and working prior to receiving the presentation.

GUIDELINES FOR POSTERS

Posters should be highly illustrative and visual and not contain too much text. The poster should contain self- explanatory material in logical sequence so that the viewer can easily grasp the central theme of the poster. The conclusion should be simple and concise. The poster author is still the key to the transfer of information.

Size – The preferred size for posters is A0 (i.e. 1189 x 841 mm) and they should be no smaller than A1 (841 x 594 mm). Poster may be vertically or horizontally orientated.

Title and author(s) – The title of the paper and the presenter(s) name(s) and organisation(s) should appear in a 10 cm high strip across the top of the poster.

Abstract Content – The abstract should be included on the poster.

Posters will be displayed at a designated site within the Conference venue.

TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, AND MEALS

Participants will be responsible for their own accommodation, travel arrangements and costs, as well as any catering costs other than for the teas, lunches and conference cocktail function.

Google map search for accommodation in close proximity to the De Beers Corporate Headquarters (-26.233725, 28.004489) for a list of options or try these suggestions:  Southview Lodge (0833207815) [email protected]  Gold Reef City Casino Hotel (011 248 5152)  Gold Reef Theme Park Hotel (0112485700)

CONFERENCE FEE

There will be a nominal fee of R500 for conference participants.

DEADLINES

First Call for Abstracts 17 th May

Second Call for Abstracts 10 th July

Submission of Abstracts Deadline 25 th August

Communication on Acceptance of Abstracts 18 th September

Distribution of Conference Programme 29 th September

Important: Please remember all attendees require their ID or passport with them in order to get access to the De Beers Corporate Head Office and the campus

We look forward to seeing you at the Conference!