The XVI International Botanical Congress, will bring together more than 5000 scientists from more than 100 countries to probe how plant life impacts the stability and sustainability of all life on Earth. The Congress will meet in St. Louis, MO, on August 1 - 7, 1999.
"All the critical elements of human life -- from growing food and building shelter, to preventing and curing disease -- have their foundation in the study of plant life," stated Dr. Peter Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden who is serving as the President of the International Botanical Congress.
Held only once every six years, the Congress offers a unique opportunity for world-renowned scientists from dozens of scientific disciplines -- including botany, plant ecology, horticulture, agriculture and biotechnology -- to come together and share their research and their insights. The Congress last met in North America in 1969, when it was convened in Seattle.
The comprehensive program will feature more than 200 symposia with international authorities, including some 1500 oral presentations and 4000 poster sessions. Recognizing the importance of integrating knowledge from varied disciplines, this Botanical Congress will branch out from its predecessors by including 20 interdisciplinary keynote symposia designed to present challenging perspectives on issues of broad interest.
For up-dated information about the Congress program, visit the website at www.ibc99.org.
All sessions of the Congress are open to credentialed press. To receive a registration form, please call Burness Communications at 301-652-1558 or register on-line at www.burnessc.com/press.
Presentations on leading-edge topics will include: