11th European Geoparks Conference – 11ª Conferencia Europeia de Geoparks

11TH EUROPEAN GEOPARKS CONFERENCE › 19 › 21 September 2012 Arouca Geopark Portugal First circular & Call for papers We are delighted to invite you to attend the 11th European Geoparks Conference, to be held from Wednesday 19th to Friday 21st , September 2012, in the Arouca town (Arouca Geopark, Portugal). Arouca is a small town, located approximately 70 km southeast of Oporto and 80 km from the O Porto International Airport. The 11th European Geoparks Conference intends to be a contribution for a smart, inclusive and sustainable growth of European Geoparks, sharing the main aims of the “European Strategy 2020”, focused on key areas as: knowledge and innovation, a more sustainable economy, high employment and social inclusion. Adopted in June 2000, the “European Strategy 2020” aims, over the next decade, help Europe to exit successfully from the economic crisis. The 11th European Geoparks Conference aim to perspective the future and be a contribution to put on a sustainable growth path that will deliver prosperity and social progress for the next years. is about developing an economy based on knowlegde and innovation promotes a more resource-efficient, greener and competitive economy fosters high employment delivering social and territorial cohesion Smart growth Sustainable growth Inclusive growth The three priorities of the “European Strategy 2020”. Adapted from: European Commission (2010) – Communication from the Commission. Europe 2020. A Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. 28 p. The 11th European Geoparks Conference will comprise thematic oral sessions with guest speakers, selected oral presentations and poster sessions related to the main aims, as well as, a conference fieldtrip at the Arouca Geopark. Participants may also participate in post-conference fieldtrips in Naturtejo Geopark and Azores aspiring Geopark. The Conference sessions will be credited for Portuguese teachers (1 credit). More information will be given in the 2nd circular: May 7th, 2012. The 11th European Geoparks Conference will be organized by AGA – Arouca Geopark Association in cooperation with the Arouca Municipality. Chairman: Artur Abreu Sá, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Executive Secretary: Daniela Rocha, AGA–Arouca Geopark Association Members: Margarida Belém, Arouca Municipality and AGA– Arouca Geopark Association António Duarte, AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Alexandra Paz, AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Amália Fernandes, AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Ana Carolina Almeida, Arouca Municipality Isabel Bessa, Arouca Municipality Ivo Brandão, Arouca Municipality José Carlos Brito, Arouca Municipality Otília Vilar, Arouca Municipality and AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Pedro Bastos, Arouca Municipality and AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Ricardo Neves, AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Sérgio Santos, Arouca Municipality Vera Magalhães, AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Scientific Committee: The Scientific Committee is under constitution and will be displayed in the 2nd Circular. Will be composed by international experts on the topics. All correspondence (registration forms, abstracts) should be addressed to: AGA– Arouca Geopark Association Rua Alfredo Vaz Pinto – Apt. 20 4540-118 Arouca Phone: +351 256 940 254 E-mail: 2012egnconference@gmail.com Website:www.2012egnconference.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aroucageopark -To reflect about the European Geoparks Network progress; - To contribute for the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth of the European Geoparks; - To share good experiences on Education Programs and Projects; - To consolidate the European Geoparks as territories of excellence for Geotourism; - To exchange new trends on geoconservation strategies; - To present new public and private investments in Geoparks; - To certificate Geoparks: a strong tool to foster European Geoparks. Oral and poster presentations will be planned on the following topics: 1. Inclusive, Smart and Sustainable growth in Geoparks 2. Geoparks, Geotourism and Territorial Management 3. Education in Geoparks 4. Science and Research in Geoparks 4. Geoconservation: new challenges for Geoparks 5. Geoparks good practice projects 6. Labels, Certifications and Quality in Geoparks 7. Aspiring Geoparks - European Geoparks Network - Global Geoparks Network - AGA- Arouca Geopark Association - Arouca Municipality - ADRIMAG – Local Action Group - Secondary School of Arouca - University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro - Geosciences Centre of University of Coimbra - Earth Sciences Centre of University of Minho - Portuguese National Commission for UNESCO - Portuguese National Committee for the International Geoscience Programme (IGCPUNESCO) - IUGS – International Union of Geological Sciences – Geoheritage Task Group - ProGEO Portugal - Portuguese Geoparks Forum - Porto and North of Portugal Tourism Entity - ISLA- Higher Institute of Languages and Administration The 11th European Geoparks Conference will be held at Secondary School of Arouca in the centre of Arouca. More information will be given in the 2nd circular: May 7th, 2012. September 19th I Wednesday: Registration, opening ceremony, introduction and first day of technical sessions (oral and posters). Reception dinner and cultural program. November 20th I Thursday: Second day of technical sessions (oral and posters), closing ceremony, state dinner and cultural program. November 21st I Friday:Conference field trip: The Arouca Geopark November 22nd-25th I Saturday – Tuesday: Post-Conference field trip to Azores aspiring Geopark (not included in the fees) November 22nd-24th I Saturday – Monday: Post-Conference field trip to Naturtejo Geopark (not included in the fees) Insurance and liabilities of participants in the 11th European Geoparks Conference field trips – neither the 11th EGN Conference organization, nor the excursion leaders or their affiliations, shall assume any liability for possible accidents or any loss incurring the participants of the excursions. Colleagues wishing to attend the 11th European Geoparks Conferencemust fill in and return the registration form via website www.2012egnconference.com, until May 31st, 2012. Registration fees are reduced for submission forms before May 31st, 2012. Please see the fees values bellow. Abstracts must be submitted until June 30th by e-mail to 2012egnconference@gmail.com, according to the template available in the website www.2012egnconference.com No papers will accepted from authors not attending the Conference. In the case of multiauthored papers, at least one author must be formally registered for the meeting until August 15th, 2012. The submitted and reviewed abstracts will be presented in a Proceedings volume presented at the time of the Conference, together with the rest of the registration package. The authors of the most relevant abstracts for the 11th European Geoparks Conference will be invited to prepare a full paper to be edited at a Special Volume of the international journal Geoheritage (Springer). The Organizing Committee will provide in the second circular a list of hotels in Arouca and in the nearby (maximum up to 40 min. away). During the Conference will be available a permanent transfer service from Arouca to the hotels of the participants. A special rate for accommodation will be negotiated by the Organizing Committee to participants of 11th EGN Conference. The Oporto International Airport and the Campanhã railway station (Oporto City) will be the meeting points for transfer to Arouca for those who don't come by their own means. More information will be given in the 2nd circular. The Tourist Office in Arouca will provide a special program for accompanying persons, visiting the main places of the Arouca Geopark and Oporto city. Accompanying people need not register for the Conference, but if they want to attend the Conference dinners or the Conference field trip, they will need to make reservations and pay the respective fees for those events. Those participants requiring an official invitation letter for visa purposes, or requests for funding to the appropriate bodies, must write to the organizers indicating their name, passport number, title, sex, length of stay in Portugal, nationality, affiliation and current postal address. The letter will be mailed once registration and abstract acceptance have been confirmed. The dates selected in late summer are ideal for Arouca, when fair weather and daily temperatures ranging from 20 to 24°C (lows between 10-12°C) are typical. Early Registration: 250,00 € (before 31st of May) Regular Registration: 300,00 € Early Student Registration: 200,00 € (before 31st of May) Student Registration: 250,00 € Accompanying Persons: 150,00 € (without the right to proceedings volume and promotional materials) ATT: The fees of registration includes the proceedings volume, promotional materials, coffeebreaks, lunches and dinners (including reception dinner and state dinner), airport and hotel transfers, Conference fieldtrip to the Arouca Geopark, opening and closing ceremonies and cultural programme. The payment must be made, in the registration moment, by bank transfer. Please note that all bank costs and money transfer costs must be prepaid by the registrant. So, be sure to pay all fees charged from your bank. We must receive your wire transfer amount in full. The order of payment should include your name as the issuer of the transference. After registration the participants must send proof of payment to the Conference Secretary by the e-mail 2012egnconference@gmail.com. First circular & Call for papers 11TH EUROPEAN GEOPARKS CONFERENCE › 19 › 21 September 2012 Arouca Geopark Portugal