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For the latest go to XI International Symposium on Rotifera This is Information Brochure 1 of 4. Rest will be released during the course of time. Rotifers are small (<1 mm) but beautiful invertebrates, harmless to mankind. Their use as model organisms in teaching courses of biology, as a scandalous group in evolutionary ecology, as baby food in aquaculture and as sensitive indicators of water quality has been widely recognized. The tradition of a periodic meeting of the international rotifer workers initiated by the late Agnes Ruttner-Kolisko has had a stimulatory influence on Rotifer Research. So far nine countries have hosted these symposia (Austria (twice), Belgium, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA and Thailand). The present XI International Rotifer Symposium will be hosted by Mexico under the auspices of the Campus Iztacala of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. It provides an opportunity to interact with an international community of researchers on various aspects of Rotifera. We therefore cordially invite you to participate in this symposium. Venue: Mexico City has many satellite/suburban towns. The present conference will be held in the suburban city of Tlalnepantla (about 12 km from the International Airport of Mexico City). The second circular will contain the map and other details. Climate: Mexico City, including the suburban regions, is located at an altitude of about 2000 – 2400 meters above sea level. Therefore, the climate is generally pleasant (temperature 20-25°C during March). Rest of the country, has typical tropical weather. Symposium Site and Accommodation: The conference will be held Hotel Camino Real Ejecutivo, Tlalnepantla. Some special sessions (e.g., Posters) will be held at the National Autonomous University of Mexico at its north campus Iztacala, which is about 4 km from Camino Real Hotel. Accommodation costs depend on single or double occupancy. Costs range from 50 to 100 US Dollars per person per night. Currency: Mexican Peso (about 12 pesos = 1 US Dollar) is the official currency. Dollars and Euros are generally accepted in hotels and large commercial complexes, besides banks and money exchangers. All Banks in Mexico are operated electronically with Any Time Money (in local currency) availability using Visa / Credit cards etc. Electricity: Domestic supply is 110 volts. Those who would like to use laptop computers are advised to bring appropriate adaptors. The electrical contact points are similar to those used in USA. Electrical adaptors are also available locally in the commercial centres. Reaching Mexico City: Mexico City is well-connected by air and by land route. Most airlines from USA, Canada, Europe and Central and South American countries have regular flights to Mexico City. Bus service is also available from boarding nations. Those who would like to drive to Mexico City from USA or the boarding countries from the south of Mexico, are advised to use toll highways (available in most routes) to avoid traffic congestion. Route maps will be available in the next circular. Visa requirements: Most nations such as USA, Canada, Japan and European Union Member States do not need a Mexican entry visa. However, we advise you to be in contact with the nearest Mexican Embassy in your country for visa requirements. For those who need a Mexican visa, a special invitation letter will be mailed upon registration. Thematic Units of the Symposium:
There are 8 technical sessions for poster and oral presentations. At present 5 invited / review topics have been contemplated. These are (titles are tentative): a) Jelly predators: presence and absence of Asplanchna in fresh and marine waters, b) diversity of rotifers in the American Continent, c) Riverine Rotifers: a global view, d) Contrasting habitats: Rotifers from Deserts, and e) Molecular and/or Morphological Phylogeny of Rotifers. Four workshops of two-hour duration each are planned: a) Population parameters: unification of concepts, b) Applications of molecular tools for rotifer genetics and systematics, c) High density production of rotifers: tools and techniques and d) Standardisation of planktonic and littoral sampling techniques. Literature exchange and sale of personal collections will also be discussed. The official language of the conference is English. All participants are advised to prepare their posters or oral presentations in English only. Information on daily cultural events, mid-conference excursion, post-conference tours, and local sight seeing (for accompanying persons) will be made available soon. Registration costs (before the deadline):
Deadlines:
Abstracts of not more than 300 words may be submitted by regular mail or via e-mail attachments (preferably in word format) to the address given below. Abstracts will be reviewed prior to acceptance for presentation at the symposium. The proceedings of the conference will be brought out as a special issue of the journal Hydrobiologia (Kluwer – Springer Publishers). Each manuscript will be reviewed and only those recommended by the reviewers will be included in the proceedings. The organizing committee SSS Sarma (Mexico) Correspondence Prof. S.S.S. Sarma, Organizing Secretary, Rotifera XI Web site (being developed) : www.rotiferaXI.org |
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