The symposium will take place at the University of Canterbury, Biology building, 2-3 February 2016 (Tuesday and Wednesday). Please see below the preliminary programme. Attendees will be able to catch a Tuesday morning flight to be in time for the morning tea and the key note presentation. Based on a similar number of registered participants as in previous years the symposium will be registration free (coffee/tea/biscuits for morning/afternoon tea and lunch will be provided). The symposium includes a National Science Challenge workshop in the afternoon of day 2. Also students have an opportunity to showcase their work and we will look to have a session devoted to this.

Attendees need to organize their own accommodation, see suggested options at the very end of this e-mail. February is a busy month for motel bookings in Christchurch, so it will be necessary to book accommodation as early as possible.

Please send me your registration for the symposium by e-mail wolfgang.rack@canterbury.ac.nz  together with the title of your presentation, by 22nd December 2015.

A time table will be sent with a final call for presentations by 18th January 2016.

Please forward to anyone you can think of is interested in the symposium, and any questions to me ( wolfgang.rack@canterbury.ac.nz ) .

All the best and looking forward to meet you early February,

Wolfgang and Alison

Symposium Time Table

Tuesday, 2nd February

10 am: morning tea/coffee, followed by a key note (speaker tbc)
11-12 am: morning presentations
12-1 pm: lunch break
1-2.45 pm: afternoon presentations 1
coffee/tea break
3.15-5 pm: afternoon presentations 2

6 pm: symposium dinner at the Foundry, University of Canterbury (at own expense of attendees, tbc)

Wednesday, 3rd February

8.30 am – 10 am: morning presentations 1 Coffee/tea break
10.30 am – 12 noon: morning presentations 2
12 – 1 pm: lunch break
Afternoon: Deep South National Science Challenge (NSC) workshop
1 – 2.30 pm: kick-off and sea ice roadmap for the NSC and related presentations
2.30 – 3 pm: Coffee/tea break; closing of the symposium
3 – 5 pm: organizational round table discussion of principal, co-, and associate investigators (Gateway Antarctica meeting room, venue tbc)

 Suggested accommodation options

• Asure306 on Riccarton Motel, 306 Riccarton Road: http://www.motel306.co.nz/ – State booking is for UC Sea Ice Symposium and you may get a reduced rate (depending on room availability)
• Academy Motor Lodge, 62 Creyke Road: http://www.academymotorlodge.co.nz/
• Apollo Motel, 288 Riccarton Road: http://www.apollomotel.co.nz/
  There are also a number of other motels on Riccarton Road, close to the University.