The third annual Adelaide Conference on Phylogenetics (formerly Mathematical & Evolutionary Biology) will be held on Port Elliot beachfront, South Australia from April 12-16, 2010. This meeting follows the successful meetings held in Blanche Cave, Naracoorte 2008 and Port Elliot 2009. As in previous years, attendance is limited to 50 seats, with an emphasis on the development and application of advanced new analytical methods, and building trans-disciplinary collaborations. The schedule is designed to allow maximum student/academic interaction, and contains a session on the analysis of datasets during the meeting itself.

Topics covered at the previous meeting include: Phylogenetics and Networks; Mathematical methods and Algorithms; Macroevolution; Evolutionary rates and dates; Genome analysis; Bioinformatics; Human evolution; Disease. See here for previous year's talks.

The conference features one day devoted to data analysis/recreation with scheduled activities around the Port Elliot area including wine tours, beach activities, and sitting inside with your computers. Confirmed attendees for the conference include: Masami Hasegawa, David Penny, Mike Hendy, Dave Bryant, Mike Steel, Matt Phillips, Lars Jermiin, Simon Ho, and workshop presenters Mark Pagel, Alexei Drummond, Peter Lockhart and Christian Anderson.

Important prizes at the Port Elliot meeting include the highly coveted Napkin Award (for the best mathematical solution to a biological problem solved at the conference. Entries must be submitted on the original napkin to allow artistic merit to be considered. The winners of the 2008 award (Profs. Allen Rodrigo and Nigel Bean) can be seen with their entry here (webpage). This year, a new award (‘The Ashes’) celebrating trans-Tasman phylogenetic rivalry will be inaugurated, with an official urn containing ashes of actual Mike Steel lecture props used in Port Elliot in 2009.The cost and program details of the above two events will be posted on our website shortly. Spaces are strictly limited, so early registration is strongly advised.

We will also repeat the extremely successful Phylogenetics Workshop for graduate students, run prior to the conference by the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide from April 6-10 (Easter week). This small workshop (limited to 20 attendees) features an intensive 5 day hands-on training from 4 international experts, in leading software packages for the analysis of genetic data: Prof. Mark Pagel (BAYESPHY), Dr. Alexi Drummond (BEAST), Prof. Peter Lockhart and Christian Anderson (Serial SimCoal). These leading experts provide detailed instruction on the analysis of model and actual datasets, and there is a strong demand for places. Interested graduates are encouraged to apply for travel funds from their host institutions. Workshop graduates are invited to attend and present in Port Elliot (immediately following the workshop) where they have free registration.

Program

Venue

This 5 day conference will be held at the Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), Horseshoe Bay, Pt Elliot, South Australia. Pt Elliot is located 91km south of Adelaide and is a popular holiday destination.

Phylogenetics workshop: University of Adelaide, North Terrace Campus, Mawson Building Computer Suite Rm G30 and Mawson Lecture Theatre

Registration

Registration fees will be posted end of Nov 09

• Full Conference registration AUD $ (includes bus transfers Ade<-->Pt Elliot, lunches and BBQ)
• Student Conference registration AUD $ (includes bus transfers Ade<-->Pt Elliot, lunch and BBQ)
• Phylogentics Workshop registration $ (includes training manual and welcome breakfast)

No single day registration available.

Registration payment form will be available late November 09.
Deadline date: your registration plus full payment must reach our office no later than March 5, 2010. Late payment does not guarantee a placing.

Completed registration payment form can be returned via fax or post, with payment to:
Ms Maria Lekis, The University of Adelaide, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Darling Building, North Terrace Campus
South Australia 5005 AUSTRALIA

Ph: +61 8 8303 3952 | Fax: +61 8 8303 4364 | or via email to: Maria Lekis At adelaide.edu.au

Accommodation

Transport

Transfers from Adelaide to Pt Elliot and return are available to delegates as part of their registration fee. Note this covers a transfer only at the start (Mon 12th April) and end (Friday 16th April) dates of the conference. Delegates who choose to arrive or depart outside the dates of the conference will have to make their own travel arrangement to Pt Elliot/return.

Premier Stateliner Coach operates a daily bus service. Please check their service times. Depart from Adelaide Terminal, 85 Franklin Street, Adelaide City. Service is from Adelaide City to Pt Elliot, Stop 10. Times of service are: 9:30am, 12:00pm; 3:00pm and 4:30pm. Return from Pt Elliot to Adelaide depart times are: 6:22am; 7:42am; 9:12am; 12:42pm; and 3:27pm. Allow for a 2hour drive.

Conference Bus service from Adelaide, City to Pt Elliot (allow for a 2 hour drive): Departs Adelaide (time TBA), expected time of arrival at Pt Elliot (TBA).

Site seeing in South Australia

Things to do at Pt Elliot

• Tourism South Australia
• Adelaide City
• Currency
• Travel to Australia - General Information

Wine tours TBA Optional

Discovery Trail - Port Elliot
A brochure available at the Port Elliot Historical Centre, Railway Station (between The Strand & Young Street) includes a map and outlines nearly sixty attractions in the area around Port Elliot. There are 13 sites on the Coastal Walks including Aboriginal middens, the local blowhole and Watsons Gap at the end of Boomers Beach. There is a list of 28 buildings in the heart of the town (this is the Port Elliot Red walk) including the Hotel Elliot (built 1868), the Council Chambers (1879) in The Strand, the Library (1880) and Institute (1882) in Young Street, Young's General Store (the original was built in 1853) in The Strand, the Court House (1866) and Police Station including old court room (1853). There are a further 24 places of interest surrounding the central town area (this is the Port Elliot Blue walk) and this includes a number of particularly interesting buildings at the seaside end of The Strand.

Horseshoe Bay
Go for a swim in this sheltered bay. Follow the rugged cliff around the coast and explore the little bays and beaches.

Middleton Beach
This is a good spot for experienced surfers as well as for beginners. For surf-gear hire, head to Southern Surf Shop (8554 2376; 36 North Terrace, Port Elliot) or Big Surf Australia (8554 2399; Main Road, Middleton).

In Victor Harbor (info: http://www.tourismvictorharbor.com.au/)
Go to Port Elliot Station and take one of the heritage trains. The Cockle Train travels along the oldest steel railed railway in Australia dating back to 1887. After leaving Port Elliot the train climbs to the top of the coastal cliffs and passengers then experiemce some of the most picturesque coastal scenery on the Fleurieu Peninsula, with nothing separating you from the beach below and a perfect view of the Southern Ocean. Adult single $9, return $12, cash only. Timetables available at http://www.steamranger.org.au/marketing/CT_Apr.htm. For group bookings (10 people and more, 10% discount), please call Bev (8277 6020) so they can arrange for a supplementary carriage.

Granite Island Nature Park (free entrance. Info: http://www.graniteisland.com.au/)
You can walk over the causeway to Granite Island, or even ride the 1894 double-decker horse-drawn tram (one way $5). Then the Kaiki Trail (1.5km circuit) heads to truly spectacular views on the Southern Ocean. The island is also a rookery for little penguins, and the Penguin Centre ($6) details their breeding, habits and behaviour. You can also stay until dusk and enjoy the Guided Penguin Tour, a unique opportunity to witness the penguins haul out of the water then along the shore (6.30pm-7.30pm; $12.50, bookings are essential. Phone 8552 7555).

The Steam Train
The steam train, a reminder of the origins of the town and the whole region, only runs during the school holidays but it runs three times a day from Goolwa to Victor Harbor stopping at Port Elliot.