[Taxacom] Announcing - Call for Abstracts - World Gesneriad Research Conference 2010

[John R. Clark]

The Gesneriad Research Center, The Gesneriad Society, Inc., and the Marie
Selby Botanical Gardens are pleased to announce

*CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
*

*WORLD GESNERIAD RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2010*

*Abstract Deadline: May 1, 2010
*

The *World Gesneriad Research Conference 2010 (WGRC 2010) *is an
international meeting of the world’s Gesneriaceae researchers, students and
lay enthusiasts who have come together with the goal of understanding and
promoting knowledge of the plant family Gesneriaceae. The objectives of WGRC
2010, to be held *13-15 October 2010 (with a gesneriad exhibition the 15-17
October)* at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, FL, USA, are to
provide opportunities internationally for new researchers and students of
Gesneriaceae to enter into working groups, formalize existing informal
international collaborations and working groups into a virtual organization
by initiating a web-based Gesneriaceae coalition, and summarize the current
state of knowledge on Gesneriaceae phylogenetics with the ultimate goal of
creating a comprehensive Gesneriaceae phylogeny. The key note address will
be delivered by Prof. Anton Weber, distinguished Gesneriaceae researcher and
faculty emeritus of the University of Vienna, Austria. WGRC 2010 will also
provide opportunities meant to broaden awareness of the plant family
Gesneriaceae including conservation-based lectures/discussions and a
gesneriad exhibition where rare and lesser known gesneriads from around the
world will be on public display.

*ABSTRACT SUBMISSION AND REGISTRATION*

All researchers interested in the biology and systematics of the plant
family Gesneriaceae are encouraged to attend and present some aspect of
their scholarly research at WGRC 2010. *The deadline for abstract
submissions is May 1, 2010*. Registration will begin June 1, 2010.
Additional details on the conference including program schedule,
registration fees, and options for other special events, will also become
available in June. At this point, submission of abstracts does not mean a
submitter is obligated to attend WGRC 2010. If you are considering
presenting but are unsure about attending the conference (due to costs
and/or logistics), please submit an abstract and indicate your level of
commitment (see below). You will then be contacted with additional
information regarding your registration.

 *
*

*PRESENTATION TYPES*

There are three options for presenting at WGRC 2010. Researchers are
encouraged to submit abstracts for more than one option (e.g., give a talk
and a poster, two talks, etc.). However, presentation at WGRC 2010 is not
required to attend the conference.


 *CONTRIBUTED PRESENTATIONS*

*Talks* – Talks or oral papers will be 25 minutes in length including
questions. Talks will be grouped into sessions and included within the
program based on the subject matter of the presentation.

*Posters* – Posters should be 4’ high by 4’ wide (122 x 122 cm). Materials
may be secured to bulletin boards with push-pins that will be provided. All
posters will be on display for the duration of the conference, and at least
two poster sessions will be held where presenters will have opportunities to
discuss their work.

*Discussion Forums* – Three Forums will be convened during the conference:
1) Gesneriaceae systematics, 2) Developing a virtual coalition of
researchers, and 3) Gesneriaceae conservation. While these forums will be
directed by invited presenters, other researchers interested in contributing
to these forums are encouraged to contact the conference Chair, John R.
Clark, for additional information (*jrclark at selby.org*).

*To submit an abstract for WGRC 2010:*

Abstracts should be emailed to *gesneriadresearch at gmail.com* by no later
than May 1st, 2010 and include the follow information in this order:


 Presenter’s full name(s) and title(s)

Affiliation or Institution

Address

Telephone (with country code)

Email address

Presentation type (talk or poster)

Title

Abstract Text: The abstract should be 250 words or less.

Key words: Include a list of six keywords related to the presentation that
are not in the title or body of the abstract.

Level of commitment: Please indicate your level of commitment to attending
WGRC 2010 (high, moderate, low) and please briefly explain (e.g., low due to
travel costs). This information will be used to plan the conference
schedule, details of which will be available by no later than June 1, 2010.
*We encourage potential participants to keep the committee updated on
circumstances related to attending WGRC.*



 Thank you for your interest in WGRC 2010. We look forward to receiving your
abstracts and seeing you in Sarasota this coming October.

Note: Please forward this message to others who might be interested in
attending WGRC 2010. You may receive this message more than once.


 The WGRC 2010 Steering Committee


-- 
John R. Clark, Ph.D.
Committee Chair
World Gesneriad Research Conference 2010
Director, Gesneriad Research Center
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
811 S. Palm Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34236
office: 941.366.5731 ext. 256
cell:509.338.5646
fax: 941.951.1474
Email: gesneriadresearch at gmail.com