17th International Nitrogen Fixation Congress

On behalf of the regional organising committee, I have great pleasure in inviting you to the 17th International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation in Fremantle, Western Australia. This congress, the first of which was held in 1975, provides the scientific community with the opportunity for a vital exchange of ideas on nitrogen fixation. Let’s not forget that nitrogen fixation is as vital to our survival on the planet as photosynthesis!

As always, the congress will feature high quality research across numerous disciplines and identify the emerging areas in the field. The strength of the international nitrogen fixation community lies in its people – our colleagues range from students and up-and-coming post-docs to the many experts in their field. If this is your first time attending this congress can I encourage you to take the opportunity to engage with as many colleagues as you can. Establishing research collaborations is what the meeting is all about.

The 17th International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation also provides us with an opportunity to consider the questions– where are we now with nitrogen fixation and where are we going? On one hand we have the very exciting opportunities being provided by molecular technologies, with advances in these areas coming at an ever-increasing rate. On the other hand, many of the challenges confronting successful application of nitrogen fixation technology in agriculture remain the same e.g. developing new legumes and rhizobia for agriculture; achieving successful inoculation through improved technologies; and understanding the conundrums surrounding the life of rhizobia in soil and rhizosphere such as ineffective populations and competition.

Fremantle is the major port city of Western Australia, a state that is known for its magnificent coastline, incredible landscapes and unique wildlife. From tropical mangroves in the far north to the limestone cliffs pounded by the southern ocean, Western Australia offers a myriad of opportunities for travellers. Fremantle has been the gateway to Western Australia for well over 150 years and its multicultural history is reflected in its many cafes, restaurants, museums and other cultural sites. What better than a chance to browse the markets, or relax after the science in the cafes and restaurants?

I sincerely hope that this will be a productive and memorable congress for all participants.

Associate Professor Graham O’Hara
Director, Centre for Rhizobium Studies
Murdoch University
Western Australia

Local Organising Committee

Dr Lambert Brau, Lecturer – Biochemistry / Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University

Emeritus Professor Mike Dilworth

Prof John Howieson, Murdoch University

Associate Professor Graham O’Hara (Convenor), Dean of Graduate Studies, Division of Research and Development, Graduate Centre, Director, Centre for Rhizobium Studies, Murdoch University

Dr Wayne Reeve, Murdoch University

Associate Professor Elizabeth L J Watkin, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University of Technology

Dr Ron Yates, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia & Murdoch University

Critical Dates