Please visit the BEM Society website for more information about the upcoming 44th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting in Quebec City. The general announcement can be read below.
http://www.bemsociety.org/ Regards, *Heather Hawk* BEM2015 organizing committee PhD candidate, Université Laval Québec, QC Canada ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Ladd Erik Johnson <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Nov 14, 2014 at 9:51 AM Subject: BEM 2015 - General Announcement Hello, We are pleased to announce that the 2015 Benthic Ecology Meeting (BEM) will be held from *March 4-7, 2015* in Quebec City, Canada. This event marks the second time that Université Laval will host the meeting here (first in 2006) and only the third time the BEM has been held outside the USA. Those who were here in 2006 (375 participants from 21 countries) can attest to both the quality of the scientific program (see subject areas below) and the amazing ambiance of Canada’s most historical city in the magical season of winter – who can forget the dogsledding! Indeed, in 2013 the prestigious U.S. magazine *Condé Nast Traveler* ranked *Quebec City* as 10th best destination in the world, 3rd best in North America and *No. 1 in Canada*. While we hope to repeat our success of 2006, we are extremely pleased to announce that the venue for the meeting has moved to the historic *Château Frontenac*, the city’s iconic hotel set in the heart of the old city, itself a UNESCO World Heritage site. This copper and brick castle overlooking the St. Lawrence River has recently completed a $75 million renovation and is simply breathtaking. Room prices are very reasonable ($159 CAD/double with $15/person supplement; tax not included) and can *now be reserved* at the following website: https://aws.passkey.com/event/12499672/owner/50203/home?lang=en_CA or by contacting the hotel directly at 1.800.441.1414 (Code: BENT0315) Due to the unique architecture of the Château, not all rooms have two beds, and thus those people interested in sharing rooms should book early (note – we will reserve some four-person rooms for individual students interested in finding roommates – more details forthcoming). The *deadline for abstract submission and early registration is January 15. *Final registration fees have yet to be determined but should be in line with recent BEMs (i.e., around $250 USD for professionals and $150 USD for students). Our website (*https://www.bemsociety.org <https://www.bemsociety.org>*) is now on-line and provides additional information on travel and the scientific program (it should be fully operational by late November). Please note that all international participants, including Americans, will need *passports* and some may also need *visas* for entering Canada (For the latter, contact us if you need a letter to support your visa application). For those flying to the meeting, more than 10 airlines offer over 350 weekly flights to Quebec City’s International Airport (YQB). Montreal (YUL) is another option, and frequent, comfortable bus service is available from there directly to Quebec City. Other alternative airports are in Plattsburg (NY) and Burlington (VT), but are a 4-hour drive away. So with this basic information, we hope that you can start making your plans to join us for what is sure to be a stimulating and productive meeting, set in the old-world charm of this elegant hotel and unique city. Further information and relevant links can be on our website and through social media, and both will be updated plans develop. If you have urgent questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And of course, please forward this message to other interested colleagues, especially those who may have missed the meeting last year or are working outside of North America. Cheers, Ladd Johnson and Mathieu Cusson Benthic Ecology Meeting Society *Program*: The meeting will begin with an icebreaker on Wednesday evening (March 4), end with its traditional banquet and dancing on Saturday night (March 7), and be filled in between with the latest research in benthic marine ecology. The scientific program will include both oral presentations and posters on a variety of *contemporary subjects in marine sciences*, including: anthropogenic impacts, arctic ecosystems, biological invasions, behavior, biodiversity, chemical ecology, community ecology, conservation and management, deep sea biology, ecophysiology, ecosystem functioning, evolution, fisheries, life history strategies, macroecology, metapopulations/population genetics, restoration, molecular ecology, recruitment/larval ecology, reef ecology, trophic relationships. Sessions for *oral presentations* will run all day Thursday and Saturday, but will end early on Friday to allow participants the opportunity to explore the city and surrounding area or to schedule smaller group meetings. A wine-and-cheese will be held later that evening in the Morrin Centre, an English-language cultural centre located in a restored prison and Victorian library near the Château. All *posters* will be presented on Thursday evening but should also be available for viewing all day Friday.
