The World's Poultry Science Association (WPSA) holds its renowned scientific conference once every four years. Coming up is the 23rd time that the event has been held, each time in a different country. The previous congress took place in Istanbul in 2004, organised by the Turkish branch of WPSA. This time, the Association's Australian branch has the honour to host the XXIII World's Poultry Congress (WPC) from 29 June to 4 July. The venue is the fine convention centre in the city of Brisbane, which offers facilities for both the scientific sessions and the accompanying exhibition.
Final arrangements are going ahead apace for the Congress. More than one thousand delegates have already registered to attend, attracted by a full programme including 15 plenary speakers and 110 invited speakers. As well as the WPC, 6th Asian-Pacific Poultry Health Conference, 4th International Ratite Science Symposium and 2008 Australian Poultry Information Exchange (PIX) will be held in Brisbane at the same time. And there will be workshops for turkey producers and fancy poultry. The full programme should be available on the Congress web site in May to allow visitors to plan which sessions they wish to attend.
In addition to the scientific programme, there will be a trade exhibition that is by far the largest of its type ever staged in Australia. More than 200 exhibitors will present their latest products and services for the poultry industry in an adjacent area of the convention centre.
WPC organisers tell us that this will be a good time of year to visit sub-tropical Brisbane, with daily temperatures in the range 12-23°C. A pre- or post-Congress tour to the Great Barrier Reef in northern Queensland or to the Red Centre' would add greatly to the Australian experience.
