Future SON Meetings

   The Gulf State Park and Auburn University invite you to attend the 60^th annual meeting of the Society of Nematologists on September 12 - 15, 2021. The Lodge at Gulf State Park, A Hilton Hotel is a unique destination on the Alabama Gulf Coast where nature is at your doorstep. It is located inside the naturally beautiful 6,150-acre Gulf State Park. This unique destination stands out from other Gulf Coast destinations because of its size and the diversity of its preserved ecosystems. 

The park is part of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World (https://www.nationalgeographiclodges.com/lodges/map-view/) and the Jean-Michel Cousteau Learning campus. (https://watershed.pro/portfolio/learning-campus-gulf-state-park/). Meeting rooms, restaurants, and hotel rooms are linked with covered walk ways.  Open air space is optimized. 

The park has 3.5 miles of beautiful white sand beaches; 28 miles of educational hiking and biking trails, Segway tours, a nature center, outdoor classrooms, kayaking, guided nature walks and more. Its beachfront location also provides easy access to a host of water activities. This unique destination stands out from other Gulf Coast destinations because of its size, the diversity of its preserved ecosystems and commitment to sustainability. There is simply nowhere else like it on the Gulf Coast. 

The Lodge at the Gulf state Park served as the meeting site and primary hotel accommodations for the 60^th annual SON meeting.  https://www.gulfshores.com/lodging/resorts/the-lodge-at-gulf-state-park/) 

The Pensacola International Airport located in Pensacola, Florida is 37 miles from the park. (https://www.pensacola-airport.com/) American, Delta, Southwest and Frontier are some of the airlines that fly in to this airport. Rental cars and Uber offer transport to the park. Parking in the park is $5.00 a day and bicycles are available at no additional cost.

Your meeting registration includes access to all scientific sessions, the opening reception, the wine and cheese poster session, closing reception and awards banquet dinner.  Included in your registration fee, we will have morning and afternoon beverage service and snacks as well as lunches provided. 

Our initial meeting schedule:

•       Sunday evening  Welcome Reception

•       Monday morning Plenary Sessions I & II

•       Monday afternoon Graduate Student Paper Competition

•       Monday evening Star Gazing at the Pier 

•       Tuesday Paper sessions and Symposia

•       Tuesday evening Wine and Cheese Poster Session

•       Wednesday morning Nature Tours

•       Wednesday afternoon Capacity Building grants & Committee meetings 

•       Wednesday evening Closing Banquet

Further details will be available in January 2021.