Glasgow: IMCC3 Host City a Must-Visit

Don’t just take our word for it…
The IMCC 2014 host city, Glasgow, has been celebrated by numerous world-leading publications, travel guides and websites as a must-visit destination in 2014. Here is a selection of what they had to say:

Rough Guides – Top 10 Cities for 2014
“In the past few decades, Scotland’s biggest city has emerged as a cultural powerhouse. The River Clyde, which once ferried tobacco traders towards the city, now flows past smoking-hot artists’ studios and museums, which have appeared in rejuvenated docks.”

Jetsetter – Where to Go in 2014
“With a string of thumping live music venues, a sartorial scene to rival London’s and a skyline shaped by starchitects, Glasgow is Scotland’s creative capital and longtime hipper sister to tourist-packed Edinburgh.”

Wanderlust – 10 Destinations for 2014
“In Glasgow, you’ll be bowled over with the amount of options on offer – seek out historic sites, visit the city’s parks and gardens, explore the impressive gastronomic scene or soak up the cultured art scene in one of the city’s many galleries.”

The Telegraph – Twenty destinations for 2014
“Expect a warm welcome from one of the world’s friendliest cities. The city is summed up by its marketing slogan ‘People Make Glasgow’.”

International Business Times – 14 Destinations For 2014
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a more exciting time to go to Glasgow than the coming year when Scotland’s largest city plays host to a preponderance of international events.

The Guardian – UK Travel Hot List & Global Holiday Hotspots
“2014 would be a good time to rediscover Scotland’s largest city as it welcomes the world during what is, perhaps, the biggest year in its history.”

Marie Claire – 8 Must-Visit Destinations That Make Us Want To Book a Holiday Today
“The Commonwealth Games hit Glasgow in July and travel insiders expect a resulting year-long buzz in this friendly city, which boasts a vibrant art, theatre and music scene.”

RyanAir’s in-flight magazine Let’s Go – Great Escapes of 2014
“Over the last decade, Glasgow has morphed into a veritable entertainment nexus. World beating athletics, concerts and comedy nights keep Scotland’s largest city rocking all year long – and 2014 is on course to be its biggest yet.”

(Photo: Samantha Oester)

International Marine Conservation Congress: Making Marine Science Matter

This video highlights clips and interviews from the 2nd International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC2), held in 2010 in Victoria, Canada. The video also previews IMCC3, to be held in August 2014. It shows the incredible importance of IMCC and marine conservation.

The video features interviews of: IMCC2 Chair Ellen Hines, Jeff Ardon of the Marine Conservation Institute, Nick Dulvy of Simon Fraser University, Philip Dearden of the University of Victoria, Nancy Knowlton of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Kerstin Forsberg of Planeta Oceano.

The International Marine Conservation Congress: Making Marine Science Matter

Glasgow: A Fitting Backdrop for IMCC3

by Samantha Oester

Scotland’s largest city is located in the West Central Lowlands, with the River Clyde bisecting the picturesque location. According to Dr. Chris Parsons, IMCC3 Chair, Glasgow was chosen as the host city for IMCC3 for several reasons, including its location, history and the country’s keen interest in marine science and marine conservation. And Glasgow is pleased to host IMCC3. “We’re delighted that IMCC is coming to Glasgow in August, during what will be a showcase year for the city,” said Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions at the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. “Hosting such a prestigious conference reinforces Glasgow’s international reputation as a world-leading conventions city, and we are committed to ensuring IMCC 2014 is a success and that your delegates enjoy a memorable experience.”

The top reasons the SCBMarine Board chose Glasgow as the location for IMCC3 include:

(1) The city’s location on the Clyde estuary. Glasgow has a long history of being a city whose people depended upon the estuary.

(2) The Millport Marine Lab, the oldest marine field station in Scotland (and one of the oldest in the world), is situated in the Firth of Clyde.

(3)  Glasgow is a portal to some of the country’s most beautiful natural settings. The west coast of Scotland is a premier destination for marine wildlife tourism. Hop on a train, and in an hour or so, you’re in the Scottish Highlands. In three hours, you’re in Oban, the gateway to the western Isles of Scotland and next to some of the best whale watching and bird watching locations in Europe.

(4) There has been a lot of success in the Clyde in bringing scientists and fishermen together to help manage marine resources.

(5) There are numerous universities in Glasgow, or within about an hour outside of the city, with nationally and internationally famous marine biology programs.

(6) The SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre), the location of the main IMCC3 scientific program, has a great sustainability policy.

(7)  The University of Glasgow kindly offered to partner with IMCC to help organize the meeting and to host most of the workshops.

(8) The IMCC3 chair and co-chair, Dr. John Cigliano, are big single malt whisky aficionados…

Additionally, the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau is an incredibly hospitable organization, ensuring delegates of international events held in Glasgow feel welcomed. “Glasgow prides itself on being home to world-class amenities, great travel and transport links and a ‘can-do’ culture,” Crawford explained. “The teamwork that exists between the different partners across our conventions sector is second to none—from our venues, hotels and restaurants, to our transport providers, local ambassadors and wider conference service providers; all of whom come together to make our city one of Europe’s premier business tourism destinations.”

Crawford best describes Glasgow as “vibrant and dynamic,” with much to see and do in the way of arts, culture, architecture and of course, shopping. Crawford feels the entire city is excited to host IMCC3. “We look forward to extending Glasgow’s renowned warm and friendly welcome to each and every one of you later this year at IMCC 2014.”

-Samantha Oester is Communications Chair for IMCC3

Gie it Laldy in Glasgow

by Samantha Jane King

Awrite! Welcome to Glasgow—city of culture, city of history, but most importantly MY city. To all you visitors from near or far landing on Scottish soil this August, a warmer welcome you could not ask for! Glasgow is our dear green place. Glasgow is rainy. Glasgow is friendly. But most importantly, Glasgow is UNIQUE!

I have lived on the outskirts of this city my entire life, and many a weekend I have frequented the bright lights of “Glasvegas.” Whether it be for the live music scene, thriving nightlife or the deep fried cuisine, there’s something for everyone in this most diverse of cities.

So let’s start with our bellies. Scottish cuisine can be found all over the city, with traditional restaurants like Arisaig and Roastit Bubbly Jocks serving up delicious haggis (if they can catch it first), venison, game and a homemade black pudding. Too heavy on the meat? Vegans and vegetarians are more than catered for in the city centre with restaurants like 13^th Note and Mono serving up scrummy meat-free mains and dairy-free desserts. The vegan-friendly salted caramel and pecan cheesecake with tequila and lime syrup from Mono is a pudding not to be missed! But before you leave this city—or country as a matter of fact – you have to claim that you’ve encountered the culinary delight that is the deep-fried Mars bar! I’ll leave you to decide on that one….

Now, we need something to wash all that delicious food down with. Good or bad, Glasgow is a city with a vast drinking culture. What better way to quench a thirst than with a wee dram! After all, we are the whiskey capitol. The Pot Still, Lismore, The Ben Nevis and The Wee Pub at Ubiquitous Chip are among the favourites of Glaswegians—boasting more than 150 types of malt, along with craft beers and ales. Make sure to visit the whiskey shop at Buchannan Galleries to pick up traditional island malt before heading back home!

If you have no intention of returning to your hotel after a drink at the pub, then Glasgow has many opportunities for late-night entertainment. Thriving nightclubs, comedy clubs, jazz bars, live music venues and even a burlesque scene await you in the city centre and west end. Most clubs are open till 3am, giving plenty of time for you to “gie it laldy” on the dance floor! Taxis are plentiful in the city centre, so you’ll never be stuck for a lift home.

So pubs, clubs and boogie nights are not your thing? Don’t worry. You’ve come to the city of culture. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Scottish Transport Museum and Charles Rene Mackintosh-designed buildings, such as “House for an Art Lover,” are all spectacular places to visit on a rainy day. (Let’s face it, you’re in the wettest country on Earth.) But the biggest draw to these attractions is that they’re all FREE. If you feel you can brave the weather head to Glasgow’s main shopping streets, known locally to us Scots as the “style mile,” including Argyle Street, Buchannan Street and the wonderfully named Sauchiehall street. (I challenge you to pronounce that one.)

I could go on for page after page about how much I love this city, but whatever you choose to do with your free time here at Glasgow, I guarantee you’ll soon fall in love with this city and country! Haste ye back and Lang may yer lums reek!

-Samantha Jane King is a Glasgow native. She is the area coordinator for Glasgow and Western Scotland with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, as well as part of the IMCC3 Communications Committee.

(Photo: Samantha Oester)

The 3rd International Marine Conservation Congress

The 3rd International Marine Conservation Congress

To conserve the world’s oceans we must go beyond science, and use it to inform policy and management, and ultimately to catalyze change. The Society for Conservation Biology’s International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC) brings together conservation professionals and students to develop new and powerful tools to further marine conservation science and policy. IMCC3 is being held 14-18 August 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.