The only way to get to São Miguel Island is by airplane

Ponta Delgada’s airport - João Paulo II Airport - is an international airport located on the island of São Miguel and the offering direct domestic flights to all islands of the Azores, Madeira and Portugal mainland (Lisbon, Porto and Faro). Ponta Delgada’s airport also accommodates international flights to several European and North-American destinations.

Azores Airlines (www.azoresairlines.pt), Tap air Portugal (www.flytap.com) and Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) operate all year round in the airport.

There are regular international direct flights operated by Azores Airlines from Gran Canaria (Spain), Praia (Cape Verde), Frankfurt (Germany), Toronto (Canada), Boston and New York (USA). Seasonal destinations include Hamilton (Bermuda), Barcelona and Bilbao (Spain), Montreal (Canada), and Paris (France)

 Additionally, the following airlines operate seasonal flights from and to Ponta Delgada: Tui Fly Belgium (Brussels, Belgium), Tui Fly Netherlands (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Transavia (Amsterdam, Netherlands; Paris, France), Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Germany), Iberia (Madrid, Spain), Swiss (Geneve, Switzerland), Edelweiss Air (Zurich, Switzerland), Binter Canarias (Gran Caranaria, Spain), British Airways (London, United Kingdom), and United Airlines (New York, USA).

For more information, please visit:

https://www.visitazores.com

http://www.visitpontadelgada.pt

https://www.aeroportopontadelgada.pt/en/pdl/home

Abstract submission is open until June 30th 2024, at the latest.

Each participant can submit two abstracts. The length of the abstract is limited to 3,000 characters, including spaces.

Please select the session that best fits your contribution or according to the instructions of the relevant scientific session, consisting of the following Subgroups: Fungi, Entomoparasitic nematodes, Viruses, Soil insect pests, Slugs and snails, and Bacteria.

If your contribution does not fit into any of the sessions, simply assign it to the "Free Session" category. We will then either help with the assignment or organize contributions in a "Free Session".

Guidelines and instructions for presentations

- Oral communications: 10 minutes for the presentation, plus 5 minutes for discussion.

- Poster guidelines: Width (80 cm) x Height (120 cm)

Given the Azores' rising popularity as a tourist destination, prices tend to escalate during this period. We recommend checking platforms such as booking.com for comparative pricing.

We're actively seeking the best accommodation deals for our meeting attendees. Currently, we have secured special rates with the following options bellow. We're also working on adding more discounted choices for participants, which will be promptly updated on our website. While each attendee is responsible for booking their stay on São Miguel Island, our organizing committee is available to provide assistance.

Bensaude Hotels

Use the code iobc2024 which grants access to a 10% discount on reservations through the website (https://www.bensaudehotels.com/) at the time of booking;

The hotels covered by the respective code are:

o   Neat Hotel Avenida ***

o   São Miguel Park Hotel ****

o   Hotel Marina Atlântico ****

o   Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico *****

The stay period covered is between September 4th and 15th, 2024, and participants can make their reservations until September 8th, 2024.

Octant Hotels

Use the code IOBC2024 which grants access to a 15% reduction on the FREE rate on reservations through the website (https://pontadelgada.octanthotels.com/) on Standard room categories.

The promo code is available for bookings between March 8th and August 31st, 2024, for stays between September 7th and September 15th, 2024. 

Additionally, we provide a map bellow with nearby options close to the Congress Site (University of the Azores). Alternatively, you can access the map here.

The University of Azores has the possibility to house 20 students (in 10 double-bed rooms) for 35€ per night per person. This option is available for students from September 7th to September 14th. Any student interested in this option should contact the organization.

Due to their unique position on the Gulf Stream, the Azores maintain a temperate, subtropical climate with mild air and ocean temperatures all year long. Average temperatures sit comfortably at about 13ºC (55ºF) in the winter, and 24ºC (75ºF) in the summer. The Azores Islands are fairly humid and prone to quickly shifting weather patterns, which are the reason the archipelago’s beautiful landscapes are always so lush and green. also noteworthy to mention is that the Azores Islands have several microclimates, depending on whether you’re by the sea, at the top of a mountain, or visiting the hot springs, so think layers when dressing to go out each day. 

September to December

If you like the summer breeze, but could do without the heat of this hottest season, early autumn would be the perfect time for your Azores trip. The hydrangeas are still in bloom, the temperatures remain warm and pleasant but not overbearing, and the larger crowds of tourists that the summer months draw have already gone. So, for travelers looking for a more quiet and relaxing holiday, autumn is a great option. You can do everything you’ve imagined, just as in the height of the summer months, just count on some occasional rain, as spring is the time of extra showers in the Azores.

The average temperature during autumn in the Azores: between 15ºC (59ºF) and 21ºC (69ºF)

Activities with special prices for congress

Whale Watching in the Azores: Get Up Close and Personal with These Majestic Creatures

The peak season for whale watching in the Azores begins in April and runs through October, with the exception of sperm whale sightings, which are commonplace year-round. The types of whales you will be able to catch a glimpse of will vary depending on the exact times of year you visit the islands as well. The larger whales, like the beloved blue whales of the Azores, are most prevalent during the months of April and May, and October is the hot month for humpbacks to be spotted.

Discover the Breathtaking Hiking Trails of the Azores

 Although you may be like most people, who assume that hiking season only starts in the spring and is over once summer comes to an end, when speaking of the Azores, all those rules go right out the window! Here, hiking is always a good idea, and it is never too cold or too hot to enjoy a happy trekking adventure in the beautiful Azores outdoors. In fact, fall and winter are actually some of the best seasons to visit the island trails, as they are far less crowded than they would be in the summer. It is worthy to note that during the winter season, it does get rainier, but don’t let that deter you, just plan ahead and pack appropriate weather attire so you can still hit the trails!

Nelson Simões
Duarte Toubarro
Jorge Frias
Hugo Monteiro
Anna Garriga
Mário Teixeira

Contact information: info.iobc@uac.pt

Eustachio Tarasco
Giselher Grabenweger
Enrique Quesada-Moraga
Vladimír Puža
Miguel Lopez-Ferber
Luca Ruiu
Nelson José De Oliveira Simões
António Onofre Costa Miranda Soares
Diogo Figueiredo
Maria Luísa Melo Oliveira
Elisabete Tavares Lacerda De Figueiredo Oliveira
Dietrich Stephan
Jirka Nermut
David João Horta Lopes
Ralf-Udo Ehlers