International Diatom Symposium (IDS)

What is the IDS?

The International Diatom Symposium began as the “First Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms” in Bremerhaven, Germany in 1970 with 15 diatomists in attendance. The informal group decided to meet on a biennial basis with meetings moving to different venues across Europe. The group grew with each of the early meetings and came to recognize the need to include both marine and freshwater researchers at the symposium. At the fifth meeting of the group, the name was changed to reflect this; the “Fifth Symposium on Recent and Fossil Diatoms” was held in Antwerp, Belgium in 1978. The meeting eventually adopted the name “International Diatom Symposium” at the 1982 seventh meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In 1986, at the Ninth International Diatom Symposium in Bristol, UK, the International Society for Diatom Research (ISDR) was formally established and has used the International Diatom Symposium to hold their biennial meetings of the Council and the Society.

The IDS continues as a biennial gathering of international diatomists with symposia venues proposed by members, subjected to member vote, and given final council approval. The Society has encouraged meetings beyond European and American venues; notable venues have included the first Asian meeting (Fourteenth International Diatom Symposium, in Tokyo, Japan), the first Australian meeting (Fifteenth International Diatom Symposium, in Perth, Australia), and a symposium held in Russia (Nineteenth International Diatom Symposium in Listvyanka, Russia).

Next IDS Venues

Japan 2023 Who is the host? Ric Jordan, Yamagata University Where? Yamagata, Japan What venue? TERRSA, Yamagata When? 28th August – 2nd September 2023 What format? Virtual / in person / hybrid (at this moment, all options, including cancellation, are possible) Possible activities – we plan to have both mid-conference and post-conference trips Website: https://diatom.localinfo.jp/

South Africa 2025 Who is the host? Jonathan Taylor, North-West University Where? Skukuza, Kruger National Park What venue? Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre When? End of August 2025 What format? In person Possible activities – Game drives, guided walks. Post conference there are wilderness trails (Lebombo Eco-Trail etc.), mountain bike trails, horse riding etc. (https://www.sanparks.org/tourism/activities/)

How to apply as IDS host

In order to apply as a future IDS host, the candidate needs to contact and apply to the ISDR Secretary/Council. The next step is to turn up at the following IDS – ISDR membership assembly to propose it, to be voted. To do this, a powerpoint or video file is needed to advertise it. Once the selection has been made, you can count on the support and expertise of the former conveners. A document on meeting practices is currently being created for further support. These will be found here.

Support for students

The ISDR will support a number of travel bursaries to enable student members of ISDR to attend and present at the International Diatom Symposium. The criteria which applicants must fulfill are:

• Registered / paid student member of the ISDR
• Abstract must be submitted and accepted for either an oral presentation or poster
• Must have proof of being registered student
• Priority given to students from low- and middle-income countries

Code of Conduct

The International Society for Diatom Research (ISDR) is a scientific society, which, through its members, has a duty in the public interest to provide a safe, productive and welcoming environment for all participants and attendees of our meetings and events.  This is regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, disability, pregnancy or maternity status  or marriage and civil partnership status in accordance with the UK Equality Act 2010, as well as other personal attributes and circumstances, for example, gender identity, career level, parental status and physical appearance.

This Code of Conduct applies to all participants (including members and non-members) in Society-related activities, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, staff, service providers, representatives to outside bodies, and applies in all ISDR activities, including ancillary meetings, events and social gatherings.

Recent Symposia

IDS Logo created by Kim Krahn	Online IDS 2021 Organizers: Shinya Sato, Andrea Burfeid-Castellanos, Xavier Benito-Granell, Chun Lian Li, Ric Jordan When? 23rd – 25th 2021 Stats: delegates, talks, posters, 7 plenary talks, no proceedings Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HGL9ZQo06gkTHMsk1NOhte4rB71iaERa/view?usp=sharing
	25th International Diatom Symposium in Berlin Organizers: Regine Jahn, Nélida Abarca, Wolf-Henning Kusber, Demetrio Mora, Lina Anh Tu Van, Jonas Zimmermann of the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Venue: Seminaris Hotel When? 23rd – 30th 2018 Stats: 210 delegates, 43 countries, 83 talks, 100 posters, 6 plenary talks, two parallel sessions, 10 workshops, no proceedings Link: https://www.bgbm.fu-berlin.de/sites/default/files/25th_international_diatom_symposium_berlin_2018_abstracts.pdf
	24th International Diatom Symposium in Québec City Organizers: Reinhad Pienitz, Claudia Zimmerman, Dermot Antoniades, Isabelle Lavoie, Emilie Saulneir-Talbot, Paul Hamilton from Laval University Venue: Université Laval When? 21st – 26th 2016 Stats: 189 delegates, 84 talks, 101 posters, 8 plenary talks, two parallel sessions, 5 workshops Link: https://www.cen.ulaval.ca/ids2016/document/program_abstracts_IDS_2016.pdf
	23rd International Diatom Symposium in Nanjing Organizers: Xiangdong Yang, Bopin Han, Guangjie Chen, John Anderson, Lingyang Kong, Min Xu, Patrick Rioual, Qian Wnag, Quanzi Wang, Rang Wang, Xuhui Dong, Yahui Gao, Lei Yang, Yanjie Zhao, Yanling Li Venue: When? September 7th – 13th 2014 Stats: 150 delegates, 18 countries, 60 talks, 46 posters, 5 plenary talks, no parallel sessions, no workshops, hardprint only, no proceedings
	22nd International Diatom Symposium in Ghent Organizers: Koen Sabbe, Bart Van de Vijver, Wim Vyverman Venue: Aula Academica When? August 26th – 31st 2012 Stats: 210 delegates, 97 talks, 130 posters, 9 plenary talks, two parallel sessions hardprint only, no proceedings, no proceedings Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wim-Vyverman/publication/294141510_22nd_International_diatom
	21st International Diatom Symposium in St. Paul, Minnesota Organizers: Matthew Julius, Mark Edlund) Julius, M.L. & Edlund, M.B. When? August 29th – September 3rd 2010 Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rv2tZgFLTGUC_2p5FgiKIPzdGR2KwGrt/view?usp=sharing proceedings

20th International Diatom Symposium. Dubrovnik, Croatia from September 7-13, 2008 (Organizer: Nenad Jasprica) Jasprica, N. (Guest Ed.) (2009) Papers presented at the 20th International Diatom Symposium. Acta Botanica Croatica 68(2): 179-477.

19th International Diatom Symposium. Listvyanka, Russia from August 28-September 3, 2006. (Organizer: Yelena Likhoshway) Likhoshway, Ye. (Ed.) (2008) Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Diatom Symposium. Biopress Ltd., Bristol, 168 pp

18th International Diatom Symposium. Miedzyzdroje, Poland from September 2-7, 2004. (Organizer: A. Witkowski) Witkowski, A. (Ed.) (2006) Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Diatom Symposium. Biopress Ltd., Bristol, 508 pp.

17th International Diatom Symposium. Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada from August 25-31, 2002. (Organizer: M. Poulin, P. Hamilton) Poulin, M. (Ed.) (2004) Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Diatom Symposium. Biopress Ltd., Bristol. 481 pp.

16th International Diatom Symposium. Athens, Greece and aboard the cruise liner “Olympus Countess” as it toured the Aegean Sea, August 28-September 1, 2000. (Organizer: A. Economou-Amilli) Economou-Amilli, A. (Ed.) (2001) Sixteenth International Diatom Symposium, Proceedings 2001. Amvrosiou Press, Athens. 601 pp.

15th International Diatom Symposium. Curtin University, Perth, Australia from September 28 – October 2, 1998. (Organizer: Jacob John) John, J. (Ed.) (2002) Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Diatom Symposium. A. R. G.Gantner Verlag K. G., Ruggell / Liechtenstein, 520 pp.

14th International Diatom Symposium. 1964 Olympic Village, Tokyo, Japan from September 2-8, 1996. Mayama, S., Idei, M. & Koizumi, I. (Eds) (1999) Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Diatom Symposium. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, 638 pp.

13th International Diatom Symposium. Maratea, Italy from September 1-7, 1994. Marino, D. & Montresor, M. (Eds) (1995) Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Diatom Symposium. Biopress Limited, Bristol, 576 pp.

12th International Diatom Symposium. Renesee, The Netherlands from August 30-September 3, 1992. Van Dam, H. (Ed.) (1993) Proceedings of the Twelfth International Diatom Symposium. Hydrobiologia 269/270: 1-540 .

11th International Diatom Symposium. San Francisco, California, USA from August 12-17, 1990. Kociolek, J. P. (Ed.) (1994) Proceedings of the 11th International Diatom Symposium, Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences, Number 17, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, 670 pp.

10th International Diatom Symposium. Joensuu, Finland from August 28-September 2, 1988. Simola, H. (Ed.) (1990) Proceedings of the Tenth International Diatom Symposium, Koeltz, Koenigstein, 592 pp.

9th International Diatom Symposium. Bristol, United Kingdom from August 24-30, 1986. Round, F. E. (Ed.) (1988) Proceedings of the Ninth International Diatom Symposium, Biopress, Ltd., Bristol, and Koeltz, Koenigstein, 480 pp.

8th International Diatom Symposium. Paris, France from August 27-September 1, 1984. Ricard, M. (Ed.) (1986) Proceedings of the Eighth International Diatom Symposium, Koeltz, Koenigstein, 781 pp.

7th International Diatom Symposium. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA from August 22-27, 1982. Mann, D. G. (Ed.) (1984) Proceedings of the Seventh International Diatom Symposium, Koeltz, Koenigstein, 541 pp.

6th Symposium on Recent and Fossil Diatoms. Budapest, Hungary from September 1-5, 1980. Ross, R. (ed.) (1981) Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on Recent and Fossil Diatoms. Taxonomy, Morphology, Ecology, Biology. Koeltz, Koenigstein, 487 pp.

5th Symposium on Recent and Fossil Diatoms. Antwerp, Belgium from September 3-8, 1978. Simonsen, R. (ed.) (1979). Proceedings of the Fifth Symposium on Recent and Fossil Diatoms. Nova Hedwigia, Beihefte 64: 533 pp.

4th Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms. Oslo, Norway from August 30-September 3, 1976. Simonsen, R. (ed.) (1977) Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms. Nova Hedwigia, Bieihefte 54: 414 pp.

3rd Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms. Kiel, Germany from September 9-13, 1974. Simonsen, R. (ed.) (1975) Proceedings of the Third Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms. Nova Hedwigia, BeihefteBiehefte 53: 365 pp.

2nd Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms. London, United Kingdom from September 4-9, 1972. Simonsen, R. (ed.). (1974) Second Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms, Proceedings. Nova Hedwigia, Biehefte 45: 1-409

1st Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms. Bremerhaven, Germany from September 21-26, 1970. Simonsen, R. (ed.). 1972. First Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms, Proceedings. Nova Hedwigia, Biehefte 39: 1-295.

The history of ISDR and IDS, and a summary of all symposia until the 25th IDS, have been compiled and published:
Edlund, M. B. and N. A. Andresen (2013). A brief history of the International Diatom Symposium. Phytotaxa 127: 6-9.http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.127.1.4

Other Meetings of the ISDR Community

Winter solstice Meeting #2: December 21st 2022 at 11 pm UTC (news soon).

Winter solstice Meetings: December 21st 2020 at different times