Dear Colleagues,

This our last call for abstract submission to the first edition of the
Mértola Evolution Conferences(MECs) on "Speciation: from field studies
to genomics" Dear Colleagues,

This our last call for abstract submission to the first edition of the
Mértola Evolution Conferencs(MECs) on "Speciation: from field studies
to genomics"! Deadline: 10th of March!

The first edition of Mértola Evolution Conferencs (MECs), which will
occur in the Spring at the beautiful historical town of Mértola,
Southern Portugal.

Mértola Conferences aim to bring researchers and students from all
over the world to discuss cutting-edge studies in biology focusing
on evolution (each year a specific topic), fostering new ideas and
collaborations. Mértola Conferences are promoted by EBM - Biological
Station of Mértola, in collaboration with the Faculty of Sciences and
CIBIO-BIOPOLIS from the University of Porto, and other national and
international institutions.

Mértola is located in the Southeast Alentejo region of Portugal, near the
Spanish border, crossed by the Guadiana river and in the center of the
Natural Park of Guadiana Valley. It is a biodiversity hotspot - a prime
Mediterranean ecosystem. The antiquity of Mértola is attested by the
many archaeological remains that prove the continuous human occupation
of this territory. The first traces of human presence date back to the
Neolithic period, five thousand years ago, with different civilizations,
like Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians represented. More
information here <http://www.visitmertola.pt/mertola-vila-museu/>.

The MEC 2025 edition, entitled "Speciation: from field studies to
genomics", is focused on speciation research, where we revisit the
earliest studied systems and come back to look at new genomic data with
Charles Darwin's eyes.

MEC 2025 is pleased to announce prominent speakers in evolutionary
biology: Peter Grant (Princeton University, USA); Rosemary Grant
(Princeton University, USA); Leif Andersson (Uppsala University, Sweden),
Joana Meier (University of Cambridge, UK), Roger Butlin (University
of Sheffield, UK), Rui Faria (CIBIO/BIOPOLIS, University of Porto),
Jeremy Searle (Cornell University, USA, FCUP & EBM) and Rikard Holmdahl
(Karolinska Institute, Sweden), among others participants.

PROGRAM
DAY 1, 5th of April
Chair: Jeremy Seale
9:30-10:00 - Welcome Coffee and Cakes
10:00-10:30 - Opening Ceremony
10:30-11:45 - Rosemary Grant: "Speciation and Hybridization in
Darwin's Finches"
11:45-13:00 - Peter Grant: "Speciation: from Microcosm to Macrocosm"
13:00-14:30 - Lunch
14:30-15:30 - Leif Andersson: "Atlantic herring - an adaptive radiation
with incomplete reproductive isolation"
15:30-16:00 - 2 Short contributed talks (12+3 min)
16:00-16:30 - Coffee Break
16:30-18:00 - 6 Short contributed talks (12+3 min)
19:00 - Dinner
DAY 2, 6th of April
Chair: Leif Andersson
09:30-10:30 - Joana Meier: "The roles of hybridisation and chromosomal
rearrangements in rapid adaptive radiations"
10:30-11:00 - Coffee Break
11:00-12:00 - Rui Faria: "The role of chromosomal inversions in Littorina
adaptation and speciation"
12:00-13:30 - Lunch
13:30-14:30 - Roger Butlin: "Hybrid zones and reproductive isolation"
14:30-15:00 - Jeremy Searle: "Despeciation"
15:00-15:30 - Coffee Break
15:30-16.00 - Rikard Holmdahl: "Why we became humans"
16:00-17.00 - Discussion of key topics in speciation
17:00 - Close of Conference
17:30-19:00 - Free time to visit Mértola

ORGANIZATION
Leif Andersson, Uppsala University
Miguel Carneiro
<https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/people/details/miguel-jorge-pinto-carneiro/>,
CIBIO-BIOPOLIS
Rui Faria <https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/people/details/rui-faria/>,
CIBIO-BIOPOLIS
Paulo Célio Alves
<https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/people/details/paulo-celio-alves/>, FCUP,
CIBIO-BIOPOLIS & EBM
Jeremy Searle, Cornell University, FCUP & EBM

Important information
Webpage:
https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/events/mertola-evolution-conferences-2025-edition-speciation-from-field-studies-to-genomics/
Venue and date: Cineteatro de Mértola, April 5th and 6th, 2025
Abstract submission deadline: 10 of March 2025
Registration deadline: 20 of March 2025

Registration and abstract submission:
Among the submitted abstracts, only 8 will be selected for a short
oral presentation.  For registration and abstract submission, please
fill this form: https://forms.gle/fqk8EdBT1f13XM2M9

Fees: 50 euro  (students) | 100 euro  (other participants).
Participation is free of charge for BIODIV Students (M BGE & PhD) &
CIBIO's TwinLabs (If applicable, payment will be made to Associação
BIOPOLIS - VAT No. 516033727).

We look forward to welcoming you at Mértola!
Please, spread the word among your colleagues.

Rui Faria, PhD

1. Researcher and SEAGEN Group Leader
CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos,
InBIO Laboratório Associado
BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning
Campus de Vairão
Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nº 7
4485-661, Vairão, Portugal

2. Invited Assistant Professor,
Department of Biology
Faculty of Sciences at the University of Porto,
Rua Campo Alegre s/n
4169-007, Porto, Portugal

Webpages:
Littorina Research Community <https://littorina.at.biopolis.pt/>
https://rmigueldefaria.wixsite.com/farialab-1

Rui Faria <ruifaria@cibio.up.pt>

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