Welcoming Address from the Congress Director
Prof. Dr. Indraneil Das, D.Phil. (Oxon)
On behalf of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of Herpetology, I welcome delegates to the 10th World Congress of Herpetology, to be held 5–9 August 2024 in the beautiful city of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on the tropical island of Borneo.
The 10th event is always a special one, and we here in Sarawak State are honoured that the World Congress of Herpetology has awarded Kuching and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak the right to host the event. We also enjoy strong support of the State Government of Sarawak and are confident of making it a memorable one.
Apart from paper presentations and workshops, participants can shrug off the tedium of online meetings and finally get to meet colleagues from all over the world, listen to world leaders and emerging stars in the plenaries, photographically capture some of the rarely seen ‘herps’, as well as socialize, plot and plan the next big research project.
Our Professional Conference Organiser (Place Borneo) will be on hand to advise on travel requirements, including visas, flights and accommodation, and we are working with local hotels for the best deal for delegates to the Congress. A special ‘early-bird’ registration rate is now on offer- grab it while it lasts!
For the information of delegates, Kuching is a party town, with a vast variety of entertainment, and accommodations to fit all budgets. It is also strategically connected to all major cities in the region, and internationally via Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
We look forward to seeing you here at the Congress, and please try spending a few additional days (or weeks), exploring our majestic forests, photographing some of the endemic species of amphibians and reptiles, in addition to other elements of our biodiversity- tarsiers, orangutan, pitcher plants and the world’s largest flower- Rafflesia, sampling the delectable local cuisine, and spending time in the interiors, while interacting with Dayaks, the local inhabitants of this vast, friendly State.
Prof. Dr. Indraneil Das, D.Phil. (Oxon),
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
