First Circular
The 58th Winter Meeting of the British Phycological Society will be hosted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). It is planned to hold the BPS Council meeting on the afternoon of Wed 6th Jan. The meeting will start with an informal reception on the evening of the 6th in Oban. The formal sessions of the meeting will be held at SAMS (Dunbeg) on the 7th & 8th. The meeting will end with the conference dinner and auction on the evening of Fri 8th Jan. (Fuller details of the scientific and social programmes will be included in the second circular and hosted on both the BPS and CCAP websites). Delegates should make their travel plans to return home on the 9th.

There will be two special sessions during the meeting: “Productivity and photophysiology” organised by Dr Rupert Perkins (Cardiff). Agreed speakers include: Prof John Raven (Dundee), Prof Dieter Hanelt (Hamburg) and Prof Johann Lavaud (Konstanz). The second special session: “Host pathogen interactions” organised by Dr Claire Gachon (SAMS). Agreed speakers include: Prof Gwang Hoon Kim (Chungnam, Korea), Dr William Wilson (Bigelow) and Prof Telesphore Sime-Ngando (Clermont Ferrand). Other special session speakers still to be confirmed (details in 2nd circular).

The Overseas vice President, Prof Patrizia Albertano (Rome) will give her vice-presidential address. In addition, there will be a special student lecture on multivariate statistics (tbc) as well as the usual Manton prize presentations.

Abstracts - extended deadline
In order to finalise the scientific programme, contributors should complete and return the abstract form by 30th October 2009. Please indicate whether you are offering an oral or poster presentation. Students should indicate whether they are entering the Manton prize or student poster sessions. Offered oral presentations should be planned to last 15 min with 5 min for questions. Presenters should bring their presentations on a memory stick (not CD), in a PC compatible form, ensuring that the file is clearly labelled with there name.

Posters should be prepared to fit a maximum size of 85 cm wide, 120 cm high (portrait layout). Larger posters can not be accommodated. Students should clearly indicate if they wish to be entered for the student poster prize.

Please send your abstract electronically as a word document to BPS2010@sams.ac.uk .

Registration
Registration forms and on-line payment by credit card will be available from early November. The costs of the meeting will include tea, coffee, lunches, receptions, evening meal/ conference-dinner and bus transfer to/from central Oban to SAMS. However, this will not cover the costs of accommodation or breakfast. Advice on accommodation, (including details of discounted reservations in local hotels) and travel from central Scotland to Oban will be provided in the second circular.