The Long-Awaited Event of the Public Aquarium Community – the Seventh International Aquarium Congress (IAC 2008) – will be held in Shanghai!

www.iac2008.cn

Greetings from Shanghai! It is my great pleasure to invite you to take part in the 7^th International Aquarium Congress (IAC 2008), which will be held the first time in China from 19 to 24 October 2008.

The Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is honoured to host this most renowned event of the public aquarium community. 2008 proves to be a special year for our country, China which will also be hosting the Olympic Games prior to IAC 2008. With the international limelight focused on China, IAC 2008 will be an even stronger platform for us to raise public awareness for aquatic conservation.

The theme for IAC 2008 “Progress and Conservation: The role of aquariums in protecting the aquatic environment” articulates a common mission of public aquariums and we hope that through the intellectual exchange at the upcoming IAC, we will impress the importance of aquatic conservation and generate a deeper appreciation for aquariums to the public.

Conference registration will begin in August 2007. A call for papers will be made at the same time with a deadline for submission of December 2007.

I look forward to welcoming you to Shanghai for six days of discovery, inspiration, and intellectual exchange. Together, we can help to protect the aquatic environment!

Wang Liang
General Manager
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
Chairperson, Steering Committee
IAC 2008