Following a very successful "Geobiology 2017" with 200 registrants, the Geobiology Society will again host a 3-day meeting at the Banff Conference Center. The dates for the conference are June 9-13, 2019. As before, this meeting will be an ideal venue for us to discuss the latest developments in Geobiology and build international collaborations in a relaxed but stimulating environment.

Geobiology 2019 will take a page out of the 1-day regional Geobiology meetings held across the United States and Western Canada, emphasizing the work of early career scientists – graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and assistant professors. The three days are designed to cover various topics pertaining to how microbial processes affect the modern environment and leave imprints on the rock record. Days 1 and 2 will explore the modern tools of organic and inorganic geochemistry, molecular biology and microbial ecology, environmental geomicrobiology and sedimentary geology. Day 3 will focus on the interpretation of the rock record, and how the modern can be used to infer the past. To investigate these topics, the mornings and early afternoons will be devoted to oral sessions while the late afternoons will be devoted to breakout sessions, point-counterpoint talks, informal talks on career-related topics, and talks by medallists. Following dinner, Monday and Tuesday evening will be dedicated to an extended poster session. Wednesday evening will be free time in Banff.

A major goal of the conference will be to facilitate bridge building across the disparate fields within geobiology, particularly from the geological and biological ends of the spectrum. As such, there will only be one oral session at a time.

One of the advantages of hosting Geobiology 2019 in Banff is that it is a tremendous venue for those who wish to bring their families! Surrounded by the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains there are many opportunities for hiking, biking, outdoor adventures, or even shopping and relaxing. Banff is a welcoming town, with a tremendous reputation for year-round adventure. Nearby attractions include sight-seeing at Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Hiking trails are scattered throughout the park, with a number starting right outside the Banff Centre. Additionally, two field trips are being currently being planned; the first (on Sunday) to view various Lower Cambrian units that have good fossiliferous and bioturbated sections, and the second (on Thursday) an organized hike to the Mt. Stephen Fossil Beds to see the Burgess Shale fauna (Note, both trips are now fully booked). For more information, please see the Geobiology 2019 Conference Guide.  The Geobiology Conference Proceedings are available here on Wednesday June 5.

Accommodation can be booked at the Banff Center which is located adjacent to the conference facilities and a short 10-minute walk from the town center. Note, we have been given discounted conference rates for Banff during the summer season.