This decision was proposed by the meeting organizers in consultation with the European Society of Nematologists. Representatives of the 18 nematology societies comprising the Congress met and agreed unanimously that the change is necessary because of continuing uncertainty about when travel and meeting restrictions will end, and when most people will decide it is again safe to travel. All societies rejected the option of cancelling the 7th ICN, because it is the only nematology meeting fully organized, funded and ready to occur when the pandemic ends, and because cancellation would incur enormous financial penalties. Most other 2021 on-site, international conferences are rescheduling to 2022 for similar reasons.
The scientific program will be maintained as nearly as possible in its current form, but with revised dates. Authors will have the opportunity to revise their original abstracts and session organizers will have the ability to review and revise their agendas. We kindly ask authors not to contact us at this time as conference arrangements are being adjusted. More information will be sent in due course.
Bursaries that were awarded previously will be honored for those attending the Congress. A second bursary competition for graduate students is being considered, pending the availability of funds.
Official letters from the ICN Organizing Committee, requesting refunds/rescheduling of airline tickets for Congress delegates, will be sent to airlines and can be obtained from
lwduncan@ufl.edu.
Again, we advise you to make the appropriate changes regarding travel and, if you made your own booking (not with Alpha Visa Congrès), hotel reservations. Participant’s registration fees will be transferred automatically and hotel reservations arranged by Alpha Visa Congrès will be rescheduled to the new dates which you will be able to modify according to new travel plans.
Registration for the Seventh International Congress of Nematology is currently 744 nematologists from 59 countries, including 100 student and early career scientist bursary recipients. The scientific program comprises 32 concurrent sessions with 288 oral presentations, 12 workshops, 12 keynote speakers, and poster sessions with more than 500 presentations. The mid-meeting excursions will provide outstanding opportunities to explore the splendid nature and the amazing culture of the French Riviera.
Very few nematology meetings will have occurred in the entirety of 2020-21. Hopefully, opportunities to interact virtually will be provided by some societies and possibly the IFNS in the coming months. But the 7th ICN will be an important opportunity to finally meet together again, face to face, to renew our work among friends, colleagues and students. We look forward to welcoming you in Antibes in 2022, where we shall celebrate an end to the crisis at a truly memorable scientific meeting.
Dr. Pierre Abad, 7th ICN Chair
Ernesto San-Blas, Scientific Program Chair
Larry Duncan, IFNS President