The School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS), University of Auckland, is hosting the 16th Scientific and 10th Educators’ Meeting in Optometry (SEMO) Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 April 2020.
Head of SOVS Professor Steven Dakin said he looks forward to welcoming optometrists, educators and vision scientists from across Australasia. “We are very excited to be able to host the conference this year and welcome registrations from both optometrists and vision scientists. It is special as the conference has not been held in New Zealand since 2008.”
SOVS’ Dr John Phillips said the programme is relevant to anyone with a passion for innovation in teaching practice, basic and clinical vision science. “Our varied programme includes talks and posters of interest to optometrists and vision scientists, workshops on cultural competency, treatment of dry eye disease, artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of eye disease and the use of eye tracking in assessment of visual function.”
The programme includes one educational stream and one science stream. These streams reflect the diversity of optometry programmes and the high level of inter-disciplinary characterising vision research, explained Dr Phillips. “The workshops in particular emphasise our own education programme’s focus on cultural competency, and our use of technology for ocular imaging, assessment of visual function and treatment of dry eye disease.”
Keynotes are Professor Alison Jones, focusing on education with her talk Unsettled: the possibilities for positive non-indigenous education and Professor Colin Green, who will introduce the science stream with his keynote address Finding the Gap for Ocular Therapeutics.
