Issue 3 – September 2010

In this issue:

• Invitation from the Congress Chair
• Key Dates
• Registration now open
• Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities
• Call for Abstracts
• Program Update
• The Congress Venue
• Social Program
• Accommodation
• Field Trips
• Contact Us

Invitation from the Congress Chair

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to extend an invitation to all colleagues in the field of Botany to join us in Melbourne in July 2011 at the XVIII International Botanical Congress.

The Congress is now less a year away and it is time to take advantage of early registration, plan your abstract for submission and organise your visit to Australia.

The Organising Committee and the Scientific Program Committee are working hard to guarantee the strongest scientific program, superb social events, an outstanding exhibition, and the best opportunities for bringing members of the botanical community together in the one location to enhance scientific and social interaction.

We extend the warmest of welcomes to our international and national colleagues, and look forward to greeting you in Melbourne in 2011 and to share with you what promises to be a most exciting and memorable Congress.

Judy West
Congress Chair

Key Dates

Registration now open online

Register by 1 February 2011 to save AUD$110

Registration Fees

*Developed economies include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, EU and other middle Eastern and Northern European nations, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United Emirates and USA.
* Developing economies include all others.
**You must provide a copy of your student identification card or a letter of confirmation of your student status signed by the Head of your Department. Please email or fax a copy to the Congress Secretariat.

Entitlements

Full Delegates and Students

• Attendance at scientific sessions and industry exhibition
• Admission to Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception
• Admission to Nomenclature Section (registration essential)
• Satchel including program and abstract book
• Certificate of Attendance
• Morning tea and afternoon tea (excluding Wednesday afternoon tea)

Day Registrants

Day registrants will be entitled to the following on the day chosen:

• Attendance at scientific sessions and industry exhibition
• Satchel including program and abstract book
• Certificate of Attendance
• Morning tea and afternoon tea on nominated day

Accompanying Persons

• Admission to the exhibition and poster areas
• Morning tea and afternoon tea (excluding Wednesday afternoon tea)

Sponsorship and Exhibition Opportunities

An exciting range of sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities has been developed to maximise benefits to the supporting companies, the conference and delegates. A major element of the Congress will be the exhibition of the latest products and services. The daily program will maximise the opportunity for participants to visit the exhibition. All lunches and refreshments will take place in the exhibition area. If you would like to find out more about how you could become involved in this Congress please contact the Sponsorship and Exhibition Manager:

Please see our IBC 2011 Sponsorship and Exhibition prospectus here.

Sponsorship & Exhibition Manager
T: +61 2 9254 5000
F: +61 2 9251 3552
E: sponsorship@ibc2011.com

Call for Abstracts

The Scientific Program Committee opened its Call for Abstracts in September and we expect competition for the three speaking slots available in each General Symposium to be very competitive. All abstracts for Oral Presentations must be submitted by 31 October 2010. Abstracts for posters may be submitted until 1 February 2011, and anyone whose submission for a talk is unsuccessful will be asked whether they wish to have their presentation considered for a poster.

Abstracts for poster presentation must be submitted by 1 February 2011.

Abstracts must be submitted in English. Note that the maximum word count is 500 words.

Please read the abstract guidelines on the website for full details including themes.

Program Update: Speakers confirmed to date

The IBC2011 Scientific Program Committee is pleased to confirm the following Plenary Speakers:

• Professor Mike Crisp; Australian National University
• Professor Else Marie Friis; The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• Professor Tetsuya Higashiyama; Nagoya University
• Professor Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz; University of Calgary
• Professor Peter Quail; University of California
• Professor Chris Somerville; University of California
• Professor Jonathan Wendel; Iowa State University

The IBC2011 Scientific Program Committee is pleased to confirm the following Public Speakers:

• Professor Snow Barlow; University of Melbourne
• Dr Peter Bernhardt; St Louis University
• Mr Donald Hobern; Atlas of Living Australia
• Dr Ganesh Kishore; Burill & Company

For full details on the program please visit the website.

Venue

The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is superbly located on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River, close to the heart of the CBD and just 30 minutes from Melbourne's International Airport. The new Convention Centre opened in July 2009 and is part of a $1.4 billion development in South Wharf that includes a Hilton Hotel, lifestyle retail precinct and shopping space. It has received world wide acclaim for achieving a 6 Star Green Star environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, the first in the world for a convention centre.

Social Program

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception

Experience various cultures as you feast on cuisines from around the globe, delivered in garden settings of the world. Enjoy Australian bush tucker in a truly Australian scene, Chinese food prepared and served from pagodas, expertly sculpted sashimi in the Japanese Gardens, and fresh seafood in the Pacific Islands compound. Dessert will be a highlight, featuring strawberries and cream served from small white marquees in the European gardens. The evening will be the highlight of the social program and a rare treat to experience the flavours, cultures and sights of the world – a true expression of Melbourne’s culinary, floral and artistic diversity.

Nomenclature Section

Registration and Informal Reception

Date: Sunday 17 July 2011
Time: 1600 - 1830 (registration); 1700 - 1830 (informal reception)
Venue: School of Botany, The University of Melbourne
Tickets: Included for Nomenclature registrants

Nomenclature Dinner

Date: Thursday 21 July 2011
Time: 1900 - 2200
Venue: University House Staff Club, University of Melbourne
Tickets: AUD$75

Accommodation

The Congress Secretariat has negotiated great accommodation packages at a number of hotels within a few minutes walk of the Convention venue.

To ensure you receive these great rates, you need to book your accommodation through the Convention Secretariat. Please refer to the website for details on accommodation options and note the deadlines to ensure you get the accommodation you want.

Field Trips

Australia is a big and biodiverse country, part of the ancient Gondwana land mass. The following field trips in Australia and on to New Caledonia, are offered for delegates and accompanying persons to experience this rich diversity.

How to Book

Bookings are essential and numbers are strictly limited. Please visit the website for full terms and conditions and information on how to book.

Contact Us

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