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29th European Congress of Arachnology

The First Circular

November 1st

, 2014

Dear colleagues!

Forty-four years after the 5th International Congress on Arachnology, Brno is again proud to host

the 29th European Congress of Arachnology, which is jointly organised by Masaryk University,

Mendel University, and the Czech Arachnological Society. The congress will take place from 24th

to 29th August, 2015 and we take great pleasure in inviting you to participate.

Brno is the city of Johann Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, and, therefore, at the congress,

we would like to promote the study of genetics and evolution using arachnid models. Brno has

also a long tradition of research in arachnology as two important figures, František Miller and Josef

Kratochvíl, were based here.

Venue

The congress will take place at the Faculty of Economics and Administration of Masaryk University,

which is located only few minutes from the city centre by public transport.

Social events will take place at the venue and in the immediate neighbourhood, such as at the

Mendel Museum and the Starobrno Brewery. We will provide a rich social programme with plenty

of good (and cheap) beer and food.

Accommodation will be provided at a nearby university dormitory and at a variety of hotels.

Faculty of Economics and Administration University dormitory

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Brno

Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic with almost 500 000 inhabitants. It is located

in the eastern part of the country (Moravia). It is the historical capital city of the Margraviate of

Moravia. On the northern side, Brno is surrounded by the largest karst (and cave) area in central

Europe, while on the southern side you will find a rolling landscape dotted with wine cellars and

vineyards.

Brno – the old town Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

The Mendel Museum Starobrno Brewery

Besides the Podyji National Park and a number of protected areas, southern Moravia boasts

several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely Tugendhat Villa in Brno, the Lednice-Valtice

landscape, Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž, the old town of Telč, and the Jewish Quarter and

Basilica in Třebíč.

Lednice-Valtice Landscape Jewish Quarter in Třebíč

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Transport

There are a small number of connections to Brno by air; however, many trains and buses run from

Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava.

Excursions

A mid-congress excursion is planned to Pálava Protected Landscape in the southern Moravia. A

post-congress excursion lasting a few days is planned to National Parks and/or other protected

areas in the western part of the Czech Republic.

The Pálava Hills Podyjí (Thaya) National Park

All-day tours to the centre of Brno and its surroundings are planned for the accompanying

persons. This will include the Moravian Karst, the Lednice UNESCO area, Kroměříž, Třebíč, and

Telč.

The Moravian Karst Telč town centre

Scientific programme

We will use the traditional structure of a scientific programme. We welcome symposia on

particular topics; therefore, you are kindly invited to propose a symposium (at pekar@sci.muni.cz).

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Further information

More details on the programme, accommodation, fees, student grants, and excursions will be

available soon. Congress web-pages with preregistration forms will also be launched soon.

We look forward to seeing you in the city of Mendel!

On behalf of the organizers,

Stano Pekár

Organizing committee

Stano Pekár (head, scientific programme)

Vladimír Hula (excursions)

Jana Niedobová (social programme)

TA-Service (finances)