The organizers of Symbiose 2007 in Latvia welcome you to our country and we`ll try to make your stay as interesting and nice as possible. Here are some information about how things will happen as well as some advice on what to take with you etc.
You will spend most of the symposium time outside cities in a quiet place called Ivande estate embraced by trees and a small river. It is not a fancy place, but satisfies all our needs – rooms with beds, showers, dining room, lecture rooms, sports hall, sauna. There are no single rooms (which might facilitate communicationJ), the approximate number of people in one room is 6-10.
You will be fed three times a day both in excursions and Ivande. For outdoor meels please bring a cup and cutlery.
As we have a two day excursion in the nature, you should bring things you need for sleeping outside (tent, sleeping bag, mattress) and a torch.
It is usually very warm in Latvia in August (25-30°C), let`s hope it`s like that next summer,too.
As we`ll see the Baltic Sea and have sauna, you might want bring a swimsuit and a towel.
This year we have the new country presentation scheme, where people from for example Italy will have to present for example Craotia. When the participants will be announced we`ll send which country should be presented by which as well as the corresponding participants` e-mails so you can exchange information for making the presentation (if you wish).
Colour islands is a sort of workshop where participants from the same scientific field will come together in groups and get acquainted with the research theme each of them are doing and discuss current scientific matters in their country (problems, job opportunities, study and work system in their field)
Workshops as every year will cover several themes including science communication, bioethics, presentation skills etc. If you have an idea for a workshop you are welcome to tell us and we`ll try to put it in the workshop list.
The lectures on the 4th of August will be held in two rooms simultaneously. Lectures in each room will be on different topics (mainly divided into two areas – green (ecology, zoology etc.) and white (molecular biology etc.)) so that everyone can choose the most interesting for himself. One lecture day is dedicated to the young scientists and another for the big professorsJ and these woun`t be devided as we think the covered topics and presenters should be heard by everyone.
As we plan to recover the symbiotic game tradition as well as a sports hall is going to be available you might want to take some sportswear with you.
And the last but almost the most important thing – student presentations. We very much encourage each participant to give an oral presentation about your research. This is a great opportunity for you to practice your speaking skills in front of an auditorium as in the future if you want to become a good scientist you will have to report your results in serious conferences.
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions please don`t hesitate to write us on lubsa@lanet.lv or symbiose2007@gmail.com .
Sincerely, LUBSA team