The SPNHC 2025 LOC wishes to provide updates on new information on the SPNHC 2025 website - https://spnhc2025.ku.edu/, as well as some important reminders for the annual meeting to be held May 27-31, 2025 in Lawrence, KS, USA.

Accommodation options have now been released with 275 rooms in 5 hotels within 3 miles of the conference venue.  More rooms will be available if we fill these room blocks so, please book early.  Additionally, 60 rooms are available in a cost-effective KU apartment option conveniently located on campus. Stouffer Apartments offers 4-person suites with private bedrooms and bathrooms and shared kitchen and living room spaces. The full kitchens have a stove, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Rooms are $40 per night with an optional linen package including flat and fitted sheets, pillow and pillowcase, blanket, towel, and washcloth for $25 (once-off fee). More info available and booking links here - https://spnhc2025.ku.edu/accommodations

SPNHC 2025 will also be continuing the tradition of running a BioBlitz during the meeting. The BioBlitz will cover all taxa and will run from May 20 to June 8. If you are attending the meeting in person, log your observations while out and about during the conference, field trips, or other events in the Local BioBlitz. Not attending in person?  We have you covered.  Join the Worldwide BioBlitz and log your observations from wherever you are located. The results of the BioBlitz will be announced at the ABM. Thanks to Vijay Barve for coordinating these in iNaturalist. More info available here - https://spnhc2025.ku.edu/bioblitz

Something new this year - a Silent Art Auction benefitting the SPNHC travel grants being called STEAMed SPNHC - https://spnhc2025.ku.edu/steamed-spnhc. SPNHC members and potentially local artists donate personal or collections-based art to be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the SPNHC Student Travel Fund. This initiative directly impacts inclusion and supports students and early-career professionals, while simultaneously celebrating and expanding the artistic creativity of our community. The auction will also serve as a platform to connect attendees with the arts while showcasing the diversity of contributions from SPNHC members. By encouraging participation from local artists, the auction has the potential to extend the conference’s reach and impact beyond its traditional audience, strengthening ties, visibility, relevance, and inclusion with the local community and across our own. If you have art you would like to contribute to this event, please fill out this Google Form describing your contribution(s). If you would like to help organize any of these events or have questions, please contact Chandra Earl or Deb Paul.  Additional events around this theme will include an Artist's Corner and Unconference session highlighting the interface of collections, science, and art.

Additionally, a couple of reminders:

Symposium, session, and workshop proposals are due by January 10 - https://spnhc2025.ku.edu/symposia-sessions-workshops.  Please use the link provided to submit symposium and session proposals.  For workshops proposals please contact us directly and provide all information outlined on the above page.

Travel grant applications are due January 31.  Students and emerging professionals are encouraged to apply - particularly from under-represented areas - Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe - but applications are open to all.  More information and application materials available here: https://spnhc2025.ku.edu/travel-grants

Information on registration, abstract submission, field trips and workshops will follow in the New Year.

Any questions, please contact spnhc2025@ku.edu

Happy holidays

Andy Bentley,

On behalf of the SPNHC 2025 LOC

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute

Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335 
Email: abentley@ku.edu  

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258

http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu

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