Formerly referred to as the Society for Conservation Biology Annual Meeting, the renamed International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) is recognized as the most important international meeting for conservation professionals and students. Congresses are a forum for addressing conservation challenges. They are the global venue for presenting and discussing new research and developments in conservation science and practice. Most importantly, they connect our global community of conservation professionals and serve as the major networking outlet for anyone interested in conservation.

The Congress changes location, often continent, every year. For a list of other SCB Congress dates go to: http://www/conbio.org/Activities/Meetings/annual.cfm.

The 24th International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2010) will be held from July 3-7, 2010 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The majority of the Congress activities will take place at the Shaw Conference Centre.

The first official event of the ICCB 2010 is the opening ceremonies starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Shaw Conference Centre on Saturday, July 3. A picnic at Fort Edmonton will be the final event of the Congress. It takes place on Wednesday, July 7 starting at 6:00 p.m., and likely concluding by 11:00 p.m. Transportation to and from Fort Edmonton will be provided.

Our attendees are concerned with the science and practice of conserving biological diversity. SCB Global Meetings bring together conservation professionals and students from every sector of the field including the biological and social sciences, management, policy, and planning. Attendees work for universities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private foundations and organizations, and publications. They are scientists, students, managers, decision-makers, writers, and other conservation professionals from throughout the world. Some come to present, others come for the incredible networking opportunities of the meetings, so do not hesitate to join us!

The official language of the meeting is English.

The ICCB 2010 theme is Conservation for A Changing Planet. Humans are causing large changes to the ecology of the earth. Industrial development and agriculture are changing landscapes, and carbon emissions to the atmosphere are changing climates. Developing conservation strategies to cope with our changing planet is arguably the greatest challenge facing today's world and its biodiversity.

Nowhere on earth are changes to climate having more drastic effects on ecosystems and human cultures than in the North. Circumpolar caribou and reindeer populations are declining with huge consequences for indigenous peoples of the North. As such, ICCB 2010 will be held in Edmonton, Alberta - the city known as Canada's "Gateway to the North." Located on the 53rd latitude and with 17 hours of daylight in mid-summer, Edmonton will be the perfect location to explore these significant conservation issues that are confronting conservationists from around the globe.

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Please watch this website for information on Congress registration dates, fees, and cancellation policy.

To find out if you qualify for the registration discount for residents of countries not defined as high income, please visit: http://www.conbio.org/help/DevelopingCountries.cfm.

Yes, the following items will also need to be purchased (if desired):

• short course registrations
• some social events, e.g., Fort Edmonton picnic
• fieldtrips
• lunches
• souvenirs
• guest tickets for social events and fieldtrips

All registered attendees will receive a registration packet with nametags, Congress program, and a Congress delegate bag. All Congress attendees will be required to pick up their registration packet. Nametags will be required to enter the meeting location and to access the sessions.
Registration fees include:

• all workshops (unless posted on the website)
• all symposia
• all discussion groups
• all oral presentations
• all speed presentations
• all poster sessions
• SCB Members' Meeting
• access to the exhibition floor
• Congress delegate bag with Congress program

Yes, you may register on-site. SCB and the ICCB 2010 Steering Committee highly recommend that you register on-line to be sure that you have reserved tickets for special activities. Some activities will book early (fieldtrips and some social events.) Also, there is a discount for registering early.

Yes, once you have finished your registration, you will receive a confirmation at the email address you provided during registration. Please make sure you receive the email; if you do not there is a problem and you may not be registered for the meeting. For all questions concerning registration please contact: lstrong@burkinc.com

Yes, one-day registrations will be available.

If you are registering on-site, you may pay for your registration with a credit card and cash.

You may apply to get reimbursed for some of your travel expenses. Please visit the following page: http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/travelreimbursement.cfm

Your spouse or companion will have to register for the Congress like any other Congress attendee if they wish to attend the scientific sessions. If they only want to be with you for social events and/or fieldtrips, you may purchase guest tickets for these events under your registration.

The dress code for the Congress is casual unless otherwise posted.

To determine whether you require a visa in order to visit Canada, please refer to http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/visitor/visa.cfm re the procedure for applying for a visa, a listing of exempt countries and other pertinent information. All people from the USA will require a passport to enter Canada.

If you need a letter of invitation to attend the Congress, please read the information provided at:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/visitor/visa.cfm. Please note that invitation letters are not sent to individuals who have not paid their registration fee. This proof of payment is usually one of the requirements to apply for a visa. For more information about registration, please refer to the Congress website.

Please refer to the Congress web site for the registration cancellation policy.

Name badges are obligatory on the premises of the Congress. You may pick up your program book and name badge at the registration desk on-site. Check-in is mandatory. Registration desk hours will be available closer to the Congress dates on the Congress website.

The proposal and abstract on-line system offers you the opportunity to moderate a session. Also, during on-line registration you will be asked you if you would like to moderate to confirm your availability. The Steering Committee will contact you if they need moderators.
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/moderators.cfm

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The call for proposals is a call to organize symposia, workshops, discussion groups and short courses. The call information can be found at:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/proposals.cfm.
The call for proposals is now closed.

The call for abstracts is a call for oral, speed and poster presentations.
The call for abstracts information can be found at: http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm.

Check the Congress home page for important deadlines: http://www.conbio.org/2010
Dates are also available from the calls:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/proposals.cfm

http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm

Read the text of the call for information about which format to submit and then follow the instructions provided:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/proposals.cfm

Read the text of the call for information about which format to submit and then follow the instructions provided:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm

If you are the submitter and the presenter: you cannot present more than one presentation for the following formats: oral presentation, speed presentation and poster presentation, i.e., you cannot present at a symposium and present an oral presentation or any other combination. However, you can present a symposium and a workshop or a short course or a discussion group. Please always refer to the calls:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/proposals.cfm

http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm

Unfortunately, SCB and the Steering Committee choose the deadlines according to several Congress deadlines and cannot change the deadlines of the calls.Occasionally, due to technical reasons SCB and the Steering Committee may extend deadlines. Always refer to the Congress website for regular updates.

You can only edit your abstract before the deadline of the call. Submit early and edit your submission before the call ends. To make your abstract edits, please go to http://birenheide.com/scb/correctabstract.php. Enter your unique abstract ID (e.g. SY12-345678) to view your entry. If you need to perform a correction, click on "Correct Abstract" and follow the instructions. If the submission deadline has passed, you cannot edit your abstract because the review process has started.

Unfortunately, and to be fair to people who did submit in time, SCB and the Steering Committee will not be able to accommodate your late submission because as soon as the call closes, submissions are sent to be reviewed. If you missed the call for proposals, you still have a chance to submit for the call for abstracts.
If you missed the call for abstracts deadline, you are still encouraged to attend the Congress and enjoy the networking opportunities. We will be glad to receive your submission in time for the next Congress! Remember to always check the SCB home page for SCB news, including news about global congresses at: www.conbio.org

Criteria are also available in the text of the calls:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/proposals.cfm

http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm

You will receive a message at the email address you provided during submission. To find out the notification dates please refer to the important dates posted on the Congress home page:
www.conbio.org/2010

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The general schedule appears at http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/timeline.cfm and may be updated several times prior to the Congress, so please check back periodically for the most up-to-date information.

Yes, we have a stunning array of field trip opportunities. Detailed information about the fieldtrips is available at:http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/fieldtrip.cfm

No, you do not need to sign up for concurrent sessions. They are open to all unless posted otherwise on the scientific program pages.

Yes, you are required to register for short courses. If you are adding short courses to a full congress registration (i.e. you are coming for more than one day) just follow the congress registration procedure and add the short courses.

If you wish to come only for the short courses, choose the one-day congress registration for short courses and workshops and then choose the short course you would like to attend.

SCB congresses are international and presentations are given by authors coming from all around the world and/or who work on international conservation projects. For more information about the program, please check: http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/program/symposia.cfm
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/program/courses.cfm
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/program/workshops.cfm
for symposium, short courses and workshops respectively.

Each year, the Society for Conservation Biology recognizes and awards achievement by outstanding individuals in our field. For more information about the awards in general and nomination forms and timeline, please check: http://www.conbio.org/Activities/Awards/

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Encouraging student involvement is an important goal of the Society for Conservation Biology. The Congress provides an incredible forum for students to learn more about the practice of conservation worldwide and to make valuable contacts.

SCB offers students from all backgrounds the opportunity to enter a competition for oral and poster presentations. To find out more about the program, please read the text of the call for abstracts: http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm.

Student activities are reserved for current students. To attend these activities students must enlist during registration.

To encourage participation of members whose first language is not English, SCB's Student Affairs Committee offers a mentoring service for students submitters. This service is only available for the call for abstracts and usually closes two weeks before the official call for abstract deadline. For more information: http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/register/abstracts.cfm

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A selection of accommodations to suit varying budgets has been arranged for Congress delegates. For more information on the Congress accommodation choices, rates and a map showing their locations, go to:
http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/visitor/accommodation.cfm.

The host hotel for the ICCB 2010 is the Sutton Place Hotel.

If you are a student and would like to share a hotel room with another student to reduce costs, you may consider posting a message on SCB's Bulletin Board, located here: http://www.conbio.org/Activities/Meetings/2010/bboard/
SCB accepts no responsibility or liability for travel or housing arrangements made through this web site.

You will fly into the Edmonton International Airport (YEG). The airport is located ~40 minutes from the venue.

The Sky Shuttle service is available from the Edmonton International Airport to Edmonton's major hotels, Grant MacEwan University and the University of Alberta at a cost of $15 CAD/person. For more Sky Shuttle information go to http://www.edmontonskyshuttle.com. Alternatively you can take a taxicab to your destination. The average price of a taxi from the airport to downtown Edmonton is ~$48 CAD/cab to downtown destinations.

You are kindly requested to turn off your cell phone or to keep the cell phone in vibration mode when attending the Congress.

A city map will be provided in the Congress delegate bags. If you wish to view a downtown city map on-line, go to http://www.edmontondowntown.com/upload/file/EdmontonDowntownMap%20Final.pdf.

Canadian dollars ($CAD) are the currency used in Canada. Major international credit cards are widely accepted. Most Canadian bank machines accept cards issued by members of Interac, Cirrus, and other major networks. For currency calculations, visit the Bank of Canada Currency Converter.

Without permission from authors, taking photographs, audio-taping, video-recording, digital taping and any other form of duplication are strictly prohibited in the session rooms and poster areas.

Canada uses the same electricity standard as the United States - 110 volts AC.

For more information on some of the numerous sights to see in Edmonton, please visit: http://www.conbio.org/activities/meetings/2010/visitor/hostcity.cfm.

It is recommended that you possess travel, medical or other necessary insurance when you travel. The SCB2010 Congress organizers cannot be held responsible for the costs resulting from personal accidents or property loss during the Congress.

English and French are Canada's two official languages. Although Edmonton is quite multicultural, English is the predominant language.

Please note that smoking is prohibited within the Congress premises or in enclosed public spaces in Edmonton. Smoking is allowed in designated smoking areas only. For more information on the Edmonton smoking bylaws go to: http://www.gov.edmonton.ab.ca/bylaws_licences/bylaws/smoking.aspx

Alberta has no provincial sales tax (PST) but a federal 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) applied to most goods and services. There is a tourism marketing levy of 4%, and in Edmonton a 1% Destination Marketing Fee is added to guestroom prices. More about GST rebates

In restaurants and bars with table service, a tip of about 15% is customary if service is cheerful and efficient. If service is exceptional, a 20% tip shows strong appreciation.

While in Edmonton, you may choose to walk from your hotel to the Shaw Conference Centre. Alternatively you can take one of the numerous Edmonton Transit System buses ($2.75 CAD/ride). If you are staying on the University of Alberta campus, you may choose to take the Light Rail Transit (LRT) over the North Saskatchewan River, which runs regularly to the downtown core. The same Edmonton Transit rates apply. As with any major urban city, taxicabs are readily available as well.

Transportation to the Fort Edmonton picnic and for any field trips are included in the registration fee.

There's so much for you to see and do in Edmonton, you might want to set priorities and make a plan for each day. You're welcome to visit the Visitor Information Centre for information and advice.

Downtown Visitor Information Centre

        Open year-round, in the heart of downtown at the World Trade Centre Edmonton,
        Main Floor 9990 Jasper Avenue (~2 blocks west of the Shaw Conference Centre)

        Regular Hours: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday year round

        * features the Airport Express, convenient check-in and transportation service for Edmonton International Airport travelers. Self-serve Air Canada and WestJet check-in kiosks

        Flight information display screens. Scheduled shuttle service every 20 minutes to and from the International Airport, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

With about 2,300 hours of bright sunshine per year, Edmonton is one of Canada's sunniest cities. Summers are warm, with sunshine lasting as long as 17 hours per day.

Environment Canada provides current weather conditions and forecasts.

Edmontonians generally are casual dressers. In top restaurants and for the more formal cultural events, business attire is acceptable. It's a good idea to have a pullover or light jacket for the evenings and a sun hat for the long, bright days if you plan to spend extended periods outside.

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