The International Symbiosis Society hosts a congress every three years at different locations. Several hundred scientists from around the globe present new research both in the form of talks and posters.
The 7th International Symbiosis
Congress will convene in the historic and beautiful city of Kraków (Poland) in
July 22-28, 2012.
As more information becomes available, we will post it here on this site
and on the local site at http://www.eko.uj.edu.pl/mycorrhiza/symbiosis2012/
Hosted by one of the oldest and most prominent
universities in Europe, Jagiellonian University, the meeting will welcome
hundreds of researchers, educators, and students from around the world, all of
whom are immersed in some aspect of symbiosis. Held every three years and organized by the International
Symbiosis Society, the Congress is one of the most unique gatherings of life
science research specialists in the world. As symbiotic systems encompass and even dominate many phyla
and most domains and kingdoms, it is a venue wherein an expert in
coral-dinoflagellates will exchange ideas, results, methods, and perspectives
with a mycorrhizae or lichen specialist.
Those in the vast field of insect symbioses interact with those in the
legume-nitrogen fixing realm. In
this sense, the term “symbiosis,” applies very well to the Congress experience,
as extended exchanges, long-term relationships, and new lineages of thought
emerge from this diverse human community.
While every international Society seeks to tout
its selection of a meeting site, it is nevertheless hard to imagine a city and
region anywhere more inviting and dynamic than Kraków and southern Poland. Established as a village in the late
tenth century and despite a long history of invasions and periodic strife,
Kraków has emerged as an artistic and historic treasure. Its main square is the largest medieval
one in Europe. Like much of the
vast but walk-able old section of Kraków, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance,
and Baroque expressions surround the visitor in all
directions. Even the twelve old,
narrow streets that lead into the square are relatively car-free, with most
movement being on foot and via horse drawn carriages – this lends itself well
to a less noisy, less-polluted but charming atmosphere.
An intellectual hub in Europe for centuries, it
is still the world of Copernicus who graduated from the University here over
400 years ago, Chopin, Karol Józef Wojtyła ( Pope
John Paul II), and an impressive
collection of artists who led new expressionist thought at the turn into the
twentieth century. Kraków has the
reputation of a “fun” city in Europe, featuring hundreds of cafes and
restaurants (many in the open air of course), clubs, bars, and theatres. Moreover, a wide parkland – the Planty
-- completely surrounds the old town area with extensive walkways shaded with
thousands of lindens, horse chestnuts, black locusts and other trees.
The lead host and organizer of the Congress is
Katarzyna Turnau of the Institute for Environmental Sciences at Jagiellonian
University. A distinguished member
of the Polish Academy of Sciences, she and her team work on mycorrhizal symbioses. Working with faculty from other
departments such as ecology, biotechnology and cytology, and in close
cooperation with leadership in the International Symbiosis Society, Professor
Turnau is putting together a engaging
program that will contribute to the study and growth of the symbiosis
field long after the Congress.
The Congress marks not only an opportunity to
interact with colleagues in the many symbiosis sub-fields from many countries,
but for many it is a chance to become a part of the growing International
Symbiosis Society, which publishes the journal Symbiosis Indeed, membership includes a 30% discount in Congress
registration fees, a very welcome benefit. (Springer Publishers).
So, please reserve these dates on your calendar
for 2012: July 22 to 28, and look
for program announcements, registration, travel, and accommodation details in
the coming months.
Previous ISS Congresses: 2009: 6th ISS Congress: Madison, USA
2006: 5th ISS Congress: Vienna, Austria
2003: 4th ISS Congress: Halifax, Canada
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from Queensland University, Australia) delivers the opening address on the bleaching
of coral reefs.