The 19th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology (ISV) will take place as scheduled from Saturday 28 August to Friday 3 September 2021 in Catania.
The Gruppo Grotte Catania (GGC), which is organising the symposium, has decided that with the COVID situation in Italy now improving, it will be possible to host the Symposium in Catania. However, it has been necessary to make some changes to the program.
The organisers have placed some new information about the Symposium on the ISV19 Website. I have copied it here for your convenience: Dear friends, speleologists, scholars and supporters of volcano-speleology, Finally, hereis the news you have been waiting for: the 19th International Symposium on Volcano- speleology in Catania is on! It took us longer than we had expected because we had to face problems we have never encountered before and consequently had to make difficult decisions, in accordance with civil and speleological institutions.
In Italy the COVID-19 situation is now under control: the infection is decreasing rapidly because of the vaccine campaign (to this day, 10 million people had both shots, and 20 million more had their first shot out of a population of 59 million people). With the necessary precautions (negative test or green pass) it will soon be possible to return to travel from country to country, not only in Europe but also in the rest of the world. Last March we considered making an online-only symposium, allowing you to follow it on your PC screen, but the dramatic improving of the situation has made it possible to meet in person in Catania in compliance with the safety conditions for both organizers and participants. This means we had to cut down on some of the activities of the original program and to change some of the locations. We tried to keep the most significant and qualifying commitments such as the geological tour, the car drive to Mt. Etna and the visit of some cavities, but we had to give up the excursion to the Aeolian Islands and the planned speleological Camp on the volcano fields which are too risky for the impossibility of maintaining social distancing. Those who have already paid the fee for the excursion to the Aeolian Islands will be reimbursed as soon as possible. If you decide to stay in Catania the six days when there should have been the trip to the Aeolian Islands, we will help you plan some other visits of interest to you. Here is the new program: we hope that you do not give up on the idea of coming to Italy and share your caving experiences. We will welcome you with all the warmth and friendliness of the famous Sicilian hospitality.
See you in Catania. The REVISED PROGRAM (as per the ISV19 Website) is: Saturday August 28th:
For all participants, complementary transportation between the airport and the hotels (to book in advance).
OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION: The Fingal Cave, between history and legend.
Sunday August 29th:
PRE-SYMPOSIUM EXCURSION (1): – GEOLOGY OF MT. ETNA an overview of the volcano guided by a geologist, with comments at the most significant points (all day).
Welcome party (Scammacca’s Farm).
Monday August 30th:
Morning – SYMPOSIUM Institutional work sessions.
Afternoon – Catania’s natural and cultural heritage (guided short trips)- Katane: the Greek and Roman city.
Evening – Recent discoveries video or slide presentations (GGC Arena).
Tuesday August 31st:
Morning – SYMPOSIUM LECTURES – University of Catania – Geological Faculty
Afternoon – Catania’s natural and cultural heritage (guided short trips) – The City revive from the earthquake: the Catanese baroque.
Partners’ Program (1) – Taormina and Alcantara Gorges guided tour (tour operator).
Evening – Participants video or slide contributions (GGC Arena).
Wednesday September 1st:
Morning – LECTURES/WORK SESSIONS/MEETING OF UIS COMMISSION – Lectures and conclusion of work sessions – coffee break incl.(University of Catania – Geological Faculty).
Afternoon – Catania’s natural and cultural heritage (guided short trips) – Historical Museum of the Landing in Sicily 1943 and Cinema Museum or Guided tour of the Botanical Garden.
Partners’ Program – Syracuse and Noto guided tour (tour operator).
Evening – Gala Banquet in a typical Sicilian restaurant.
Thursday September 2nd:
GENERAL EXCURSION – Visit of the ”Valle del Bove”.(All day – for all participants).
Evening – Sicilian Granita Time (GGC Terrace).
Friday September 3rd:
CAVES OF THE ETNA: with the support of GGC speleologists, visit of some Etna’s caves. 5 people and 1 GGC speleologist for each cave: grotta Catanese I (a), grotta Intralio (b), grotta di Serracozzo (c), grotta di Piano Porcaria (d).
CLOSING OF THE EXHIBITION: The Fingal Cave, between history and legend.
Evening – SYMPOSIUM CLOSING – Farewell party (GGC Terrace).
As our friends in GGC have made a huge commitment over several years to organise the Symposium, I urge you to attend if you are in a position to do so. I acknowledge that it will be difficult, or indeed impossible, for some members to participate because of Government travel restrictions or the COVID vaccination situation in some countries, including in Australia. For those who are not able to make it to Catania, GGC is planning an online option for some of the sessions.
For more information and the new 4th Circular, visit https://www.19isvetna.com/ .
All the best John BrushChairman,
UIS Commission on Volcanic CavesCanberra, Australia