This message includes important information for participants and authors of presentations at the 17^th World Congress of CIGR scheduled next June 13-17, 2010 in Quebec City, Canada.  Details are provided with regards to paper submission, registration and lodging during the Congress.

The period for submitting abstracts is now closed, except for the American Ecological Engineering Society whose deadline is January 15, 2010.  Each author received an automatic notice of acknowledgment upon submitting an abstract.  After review by the scientific committee, each author received or will soon receive a notification regarding the acceptance of the abstract.  Please allow up to four weeks before contacting the scientific committee if you have not yet received a decision concerning your abstract.

Each author is invited to submit a full-length paper, or at least a revised abstract on the Word template that is downloadable at the following link:

http://www.bioeng.ca/cigr2010/docs/CIGR2010-papertemplate.doc

Complete your paper and download it by following the instructions on the web site.  After logging in, choose the “Author” option and the appropriate paper to download.  Please revise your paper before downloading it to avoid editorial delays.

For ASABE’s International Drainage Symposium (IDS), a full-length paper is required.  The deadline to download a full paper for IDS has been extended until January 15, 2010.  In all other technical tracks, a full-length paper is not mandatory to make a presentation (oral or poster) at the Congress.  It is highly encouraged however, so colleagues can have access to details of your research work.  All abstracts and full-length papers will be available in the Congress proceedings.  Original and well prepared full-length papers will be invited after the Congress for submission and evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal.  The deadline to upload full-length papers is February 20, 2010 for all groups except IDS.  Each author is invited to upload a Word file, even if it includes only the abstract.  This will facilitate the preparation of the book of abstracts, and allow authors to make any correction or improvement to their abstract with a maximum of 250 words in the final version.  Full-length papers can include up to 10 pages.

Each author must register to be able to present a paper.  A registrant can be responsible for a maximum of two presentations.  If your presentation is in the oral program, the deadline for registration is February 25, 2010.  If your paper is in the poster program, the deadline for registration is April 1, 2010.  After the registration deadline, “orphan” papers, i. e. without a registered author, will be removed from the oral program and moved to the poster program after February 20 and entirely removed from the poster program after April 1.  The Congress organizers have to apply this strict rule to ensure a quality technical program and a minimum of “no-shows”.  Participants can register on-line or use the pdf form available at the following link:

http://www.bioeng.ca/cigr2010/docs/RegistrationForm-CIGR2010.pdf

The CIGR 2010 Congress received over 900 abstract proposals. The organizing committee reserved several blocks of hotel rooms (a total of 400) near the Quebec City Convention Centre where the Congress will be held.  Delegates are invited to book early, especially among the list of suggested hotels.  The list is available at the following link:

http://www.bioeng.ca/cigr2010/visiting-quebec-city/lodging

In summary, we are all looking forward to an exciting Congress, a chance to exchange with scientists and engineers from around the world about common challenges to develop a sustainable world.

The Local Organizing Committee

www.cigr2010.ca