Prof. Manzoor Soomro participated in the 6th International Congress of Nematology 4 - 9 May 2014, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

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The 6th International Congress of Nematology, (6th ICN) was organized by the Nematology Society of Southern Africa (NSSA) under the auspices of the International Federation of Nematology Societies (IFNS) in Cape Town, South Africa from 4-9 May 2014. The President ECO Science Foundation, Prof. Manzoor Hussain Soomro participated in the congress on behalf of Pakistan Society of Nematologists (PSN), of which he is the current President and as a Councillor of IFNS. The other two participants from Pakistan included Dr. Tabassum Ara Khanum of National Nematological Recearch Centre (NNRC), University of Karachi and Mr. Amjad Shahzad Gondal - a Ph.D. student from PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. Each of the three made scientific presentations- Dr. Soomro spoke about the development and status of Nematology in Pakistan and its future prospects and direction.

The ICN is organized after every 6 years under the umbrella of IFNS, of which the PSN is a member society. This event brings together researchers, extension workers, technologists, chemical industry and commercial users, each with an interest in a different field of Nematology and provides a forum for discussions, interactions and interchange between specialists of different geographic regions and different Nematology fields.

The theme of the 6th ICN was "Ensuring the future of Nematology by encouraging student participation, relying on experience and empowering developing nations to ensure global food security" and part of the drive of the organizing committee was to ensure student participation by sponsoring students to attend the congress. A total of around 500 Nematologists including around 100 students from all continents participated in the congress. The details are available at website: www.6thicn.com

The congress provided an opportunity to interact and network with the celebrated as well as young scientists from across the world. It was also the occasion where, the newly elected IFNS Officers (President, Vice President & Secretary General) took over from the past team for next three years. Also, on the sidelines of the Congress, a General Body meeting of the Afro-Asian Society of Nematologists (AASN) was held, wherein Prof. Dr. E.M. Mousa Sharif from Manoufia University, Egypt was re-elected as President and Prof. Dr. Shahina Fayyaz of Pakistan was elected as Secretary General, while Mr. Amjad Shahzad Gondal from Pakistan was taken on as Assistant Secretary of the AASN.