“Systematics
in a changing environment”

Adelaide, 28th September – 3rd October 2008

The Australian Systematic Botany Society will meet on this broad theme for its annual national conference in Adelaide, South Australia from 28 th September – 3 rd October 2008. The several symposia being developed should address the interests of members and non-members. A number of key speakers have already agreed to attend.

Dates to note

• Early Bird Registration closes – Monday, July 7 th 2008
• Abstract submission deadline - Friday, August 15 th
• Standard Registration close, Late Registration start – Monday, August 30 th
• Registration and Welcome – 4 pm – 6 pm on Sunday 28 th September, in Physics Meeting Room, Physics Building, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide.
• Lucid Workshop – Sunday 28 th September (to be conducted by Kevin Thiele)
• Conference symposia – Monday 29 th September – Thursday 2 nd October
• ASBS Nancy Burbidge Lecture: Professor Steve Hopper – Monday 29 th September
• Conference field trip – possibly on Friday 3 rd October (see Programme)

Venues

The conference will be held at the University of Adelaide, North Terrace, with the welcome function, Sunday workshop, conference and catering in and around the Bragg Lecture Theatre in the centre of the campus. A map of the site can be downloaded here

The conference dinner will be at Ayers House, North Terrace.

There is plenty of accommodation within close walking distance of these venues.

Programme

Scientific programme

This is in preparation and will not be finalised until after the submission of Abstracts.

DRAFT PROGRAM PDF (as at 10/9/2008)

We are particularly encouraging presentations around the major themes of:

• Evolution in a changing climate (Key speakers confirmed: Professor Michael Crisp, Professor Bob Hill, Professor Barry Brook)
• Speciation, co-evolution and adaptive strategies (Professor Andy Lowe)
• Teaching, communicating and promoting systematics (Cameron Slatyer, Tim Entwisle)
• Systematics: advancing knowledge of biodiversity (any presentation which impinges on systematics is welcome).
• New approaches in systematics (Donald Hobern, Andy Lowe).

The ASBS Nancy Burbidge Lecture will be presented by Professor Stephen Hopper, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He will also be giving a public lecture on Tuesday evening 30 th September.

An invitation is extended until June 30 th for any proposal to convene a mini-symposium, workshop or meeting within the conference. Please contact the Organising Committee before this date should you wish to take up this offer.

Posters

A period will be set aside on the third or fourth day of the conference for authors to present a 5 minute review of their poster. Posters will be able to be left securely overnight at the Sunday welcome and registration venue – ensure you’ve clearly marked it though. You will need to set it up the next morning.

Lucid Workshop

This will be run by Kevin Thiele, well-known developer of the Lucid suite of identification tools. More information

Australian Systematic Botany Society Annual General Meeting

This will be held at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 30th September.

Conference field trip

Friday 3rd October may be used for a field trip, dependent on interest and whether there is a need for extra time for the scientific programme.

Accommodation

A guide to different levels of accommodation and transport in Adelaide is available here

Student accommodation may be available at the Royal Adelaide Hospital but we cannot guarantee this. The only means of communication is by the email address provided on the site.

Conference costs

The conference fee includes the welcome reception, morning and afternoon teas, lunches and a conference pack, including the programme and book of abstracts. The conference dinner, to be held in the Brasserie at Ayers House, is dealt with separately, as will be any excursions. An excursion will depend on the need for a fifth day for the conference and other matters under consideration.

All costs are in Australian Dollars and excl. GST

Refunds on cancellation will be at the discretion of the organising committee, and after 30 th August 2008 will only be agreed under exceptional circumstances.

Registration is now open

Download your registration form here , complete it, and forward it with your payment to:

State Herbarium of South Australia
(ASBS Conference)
PO Box 2732
Kent Town SA 5071

Call for presentations ... and abstracts

We encourage you to participate in what is developing into a rich and varied programme.

Presentations may be made orally ( approximately 15 minutes including question time) or in the form of posters (maximum poster size is 900 cm wide x 1200 cm deep).

The Australian Systematic Botany Society will award a prize for the best student oral presentation. Participants need to be a member of the society for consideration.

Preparation of Abstracts

Abstracts are required for all presentations, including posters. No oral or poster presentation will be accepted unless at least one author has registered to attend the meeting.

Prepare your abstract in accordance with the instructions given here and forward it electronically (with ASBS Conference starting the email subject line) to ASBS Conference, Adelaide. You will receive an acknowledgment.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is August 15 th 2008.

The organisers retain the right to allocate submitted papers to poster or oral presentation.

    [Abstract preparation Word doc]

Sponsors

• Australian Systematic Botany Society
• Department for Environment & Heritage
• Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium
• University of Adelaide
• Flinders University
• Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity

REGISTRATION FORM (PDF)

Accommodation in Adelaide