Welcome to the 11th International Aquarium Congress
Dear friends and colleagues of the Aquarium World
For more than two years we have been deprived of meeting, and we had to postpone our IAC, like almost all international conferences.
It is therefore with an immense pleasure that we will be able to meet again in Boulogne sur Mer in the year 2022.
I would like to sincerely thank the entire Nausicaa team, and in particular my successor Christophe Sirugue, the Mayor of the city Frédéric Cuvillier, the partners and sponsors, for the risk that this represents in these uncertain times.
But we are so eager to get together, to share our experiences in business, conservation, ocean issues, new projects, and also but perhaps above all, to share the friendship that characterises our profession that I am convinced that this event will be a success.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Paul Van den Sande who served for so many years as President of our organisation. I did not pretend to replace him after my election in 2018, but I will do my best to continue his remarkable work. The International Aquarium Network, which brings us all together, owes him a lot.
I would also like to thank the members of the steering committee, who come from all over the world and work all year round to keep this organisation alive and running, despite the difficulties linked to distances and time differences.
But we must also think about the future, as you already know, the next IAC in 2024 will take place in Michin, Guadalajara, Mexico, and I know that the team is already actively involved and will be in Boulogne sur Mer to present this event. IAC 2022 will also be the occasion to designate the host of the Asia-Pacific region where IAC 2027 will take place.
I am counting on all of you to keep our network alive and strong.
We should be proud of the outstanding education and outreach work that each of our institutions is currently doing for our valued public. This should be implemented over the next 10 years, seizing the opportunity of the UN Decade for Ocean Sciences.
I wish you a memorable 11th IAC in Boulogne sur Mer.
Philippe Vallette
Chairman of the IAN Steering Committee
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