Venue & history
Aims:
The event aims to boost scientific discussion and exchange among the several research areas in Termitology, from the most fundamental Taxonomy and Systematics, through Ecology and Behaviour, to Evolution. All approaches are welcome, including classic cell biology, natural history, behavioural accounts, molecular methods, mathematical and computational solutions or any other way to unveil the termite world. We also welcome studies which, rather than being focused on solving Termitological issues themselves, use termites as a case-studies to shed light on problems at the current frontiers of science.
Venue:
The Federal University of Viçosa (UFV in Portuguese acronym) is a public research university which was funded in 1927 as the Higher College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, expanding its action to Biology, Exact Sciences and Humanities from 1960’s. It has a very long tradition in research, being the first brazilian university to hold formal post-graduate courses, in 1961.
UFV is located at the town of Viçosa, state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil. Viçosa is reported to house around 80,000 people, of which nearly 10,000 are students enrolled at UFV. More details at tab “Location” in this site.
Among the post-graduate courses accredited at the highest rank in Brazil, UFV holds the Post-graduate course on Entomology, within which the lab of Termitology is inserted.
History of termite symposia at a glance:
This series of symposia on Termitology have started as a national meeting intended to get together the steadily growing community of termitologists in Brazil. After the success of its first edition the symposium turned international, attracting people mainly from South America but also from other parts of the World. The audience reaches about 150 people, among researchers, post-graduate and undergraduate students, mostly focused on basic science. A minor proportion of people interested on applied research is also expected to attend.
Keynote speakers from the three previous editions include Judith Korb, Yves Roisin, Michael Engel, David Bignell, Ed Vargo, O. Miramontes, Elio Tuci.
The IV Symposium of Termitology (SymTermes)
The forth edition of the Symposium of Termitology will be held from 07 to 10 November 2017, in the Federal University of Viçosa, in the town of Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. It is being promoted by the Lab of Termitology with the support of several organizations, both public and private. We are introducing the acronym ‘SymTermes’ to be used to designate the Symposium of Termitology. It is a play on words alluding to the neotropical termite genus Syntermes.
Starting with the IV SymTermes, attendees may opt to submit their work to be published as a full article in a special number on termites of the open access journal Sociobiology, to be released at the symposium. Manuscripts entering this option will follow normal peer review process. Detailed instructions are given here.