Mission statement

The FNPS stimulates discussion and exchange of ideas between physiologists, obstetricians and neonatologists. The FNPS considers an informal gathering and presentations of new and preliminary data, especially by investigators in training, essential to achieve goals.

History

The society was founded in 1974 during an informal meeting in Oxford. Professor Geoffrey Dawes (1918-1996) and Dr. Gerhard (Bo) Gennser took the initiative and were made honorary members of the society in 1995.

The name of the annual conference (and society) has changed several times, reflecting the widening scope of the society.

    1974-80     Conference on Fetal Breathing
    1981-83     International Conference on Fetal Breathing and other
                    Movements
    1984-95     Society for the Study of Fetal Physiology
    1996-date Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society

Membership

Over the years the society has maintained its informal character and a lack of rigid structures. Those who have attended at least one of the previous three meetings are members of the society and will be informed about the next meeting.

Annual Meeting

Abstracts for the annual meeting are requested two months before the meeting and are compiled in the Book of Abstracts to encourage recent and preliminary data to be presented.

The Organizational Coordinator will be selected by the Organizational Committee and shall serve for three years. The Organizational Committee shall consist of representatives from Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, continental Europe, South America, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and shall be selected by the Committee.

The annual meeting will be held in Europe, North America and the Southern Hemisphere, in June-September, as determined by the Organizational Committee. Approximately half of the meetings will be held in Europe. The costs for registration and accommodation should not exceed US$500 (shared room).

Geoffrey Dawes Lecture Series

This lecture series is given in memory of the late Geoffrey Dawes and is designed to stimulate, educate and entertain on a topic in reproduction or perinatology, but as was Geoffrey's wont, can be quite 'left field' in nature.

Previous Geoffrey Dawes Lecturers:
1999 Christine L Muimmery, the Netherlands
2000 David Barker, UK
2001 Ruud Kleinpaste, NZ
2002 Anthony Carter, Denmark
2003 Peter Gluckman, NZ
2004 Angelo Vescovi, Italy
2005 Jeffrey Robinson, Australia
2006 Stephen O'Rahilly, UK
2007 Hitoshi Oshitani, Japan

FNPS board members

Laura Bennet (New Zealand)

Carlos Blanco (The Netherlands)

Dino Giussani (UK, scribe)

Richard Harding (Australia)

Tomoaki Ikeda (Japan)

Brian Koos (USA)

Anibal Llanos (Chile)

Carina Mallard (Sweden)

Emanuela Marinoni (Italy)

Karel Marsal (Sweden)

Jan G. Nijhuis (The Netherlands, Chair)