The Tenth International Turfgrass Research Conference
The Tenth International Turfgrass Research Conference
North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno - 10-15th July 2005
The International Turfgrass Society (ITS) is a not-for-profit scientific organization established in 1969 to encourage research and education in turfgrass science, and to promote personal communication among the international community of turfgrass researchers by organizing international conferences to present turfgrass research and information on all phases of turfgrass production and use.
To this end, International Turfgrass Research Conferences (ITRC) are held at 4-year intervals. The hosts for past conferences have been England (1969), the United States (1973, 1993), Germany (1977), Canada (1981, 2001), France (1985), Japan (1989) and Australia (1997).
The next ITRC will be held in Wales in 2005. The five day conference includes a plenary opening session, and sessions of peer-reviewed oral presentations on the specific subjects of Soil Physics/Rootzone Characterisation, Soil Biology & Chemistry/Fertility/Plant Nutrition, Establishment & Maintenance of turfgrass areas, Conservation/Environmental quality, Physiology/Stress Physiology, Diseases (Plant Pathology), Weed Science, Pests (Insects/Nematodes), Genetics, Breeding & Variety Evaluation, and Information Technology/Education. In addition to these sessions, two symposia on the subjects of 'Turf in the urban environment' and 'Maintaining turf without protection chemicals' with invited keynote speakers will be held. The issue of artificial vs real turf will also be addressed in a special discussion session which will include presentations by eminent speakers. Speakers will include Professor Daniel Potter (University of Kentucky), Professor Bruce Clarke (Rutgers University), Dr James Beard (ISTA), Dr Andy McNitt (Penn State University), and Dr Stephen Baker (STRI). A refereed journal, The International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, containing all of the papers presented is published in conjunction with the conference. There will also be mid-conference field days to visit sites of interest to turfgrass specialists. The scientific programme is beginning to take shape and will be updated on the website as more information becomes available.
Sponsorship details are currently being agreed and the large exhibition space at the conference centre will be open for sponsors' trade stands. A separate space will also be available for poster presentations of scientific research projects where there will be an opportunity to speak directly with the researchers involved in the vast array of turfgrass science taking place throughout the world.
Although primarily aimed at the turfgrass research community, the conference will give invaluable insight to practical greenkeepers and groundsmen into current and future developments in turfgrass science and technology.
The conference committee look forward to welcoming you to ITRC2005!