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 . 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 , CIBIO-BIOPOLIS Rui Faria , CIBIO-BIOPOLIS Paulo Célio 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://rmigueldefaria.wixsite.com/farialab-1 Rui Faria (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)