2012 ICGI Research Conference

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
October 9-12, 2012

Welcome to the website for the 2012 ICGI Research Conference.  All information regarding this conference will be posted here as soon as it becomes available. All registered ICGI members and conference attendees will also receive email updates.

General Information

Cotton Incorporated will host the 2012 ICGI Research Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Our aim is to keep costs reasonable through sponsorship with others such as the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and private industry partners.  Based on prior meetings, we expect attendance to be between 150 and 225. The conference will be held during October as temperatures are mild.  October temperatures average 60oF [15.5oC], with average highs being 72oF and lows 50oF.
 
The conference will be held in the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley, North Carolina, USA. The hotel has sufficient facilities to accommodate our attendees for plenary sessions, break-out meetings, and meals. Off-site visits will include visits to Bayer CropScience, Cotton Incorporated, Medicago, Monsanto, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Buses will be utilized to transport attendees to off-site functions. A large shopping mall is within easy walking of the Marriott venue.

Deadlines

The pre-registration deadline is June 29, 2012.
Please complete the Registration Form now, so that the conference sessions and schedules can be developed.

The abstract summission deadline is June 29, 2012..
Please complete the Abstract Submission Form, if you plan to give an oral or poster presentation.

The hotel room reservation deadline is September 18, 2012.
Please contact Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley for your room reservation.

Passport and Visa

All travelers entering the United States need to have a valid passport and a visa to enter the country (Canadians are exempt from needing a visa). Please see the following website to find out how to get a visa for your particular nationality: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html. Visa processing times may vary, so be sure to apply early.

Travel

Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina and has international air service to London and Toronto. The newly renovated Raleigh-Durham International Airport [RDU] has 450 daily departures on 10 major carriers to more than 40 U.S. destinations and has direct flights to larger international connecting airports in Washington D.C., New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago. RDU is just 15 minutes west of downtown Raleigh. There is free complimentary shuttle service between RDU and the meeting venue. Taxi cost is approximately $30 U.S. one-way (See Conference Venue for detailed information).

Host Organization

Cotton Incorporated celebrates the past and celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2010. The campaign, called "Forty Years of Progress," marks the myriad accomplishments the company has achieved in its history, and paves the way for cotton to remain top-of-mind with customers throughout the value chain. With World Headquarters in Cary and offices in New York, Mexico City, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Osaka, Cotton Incorporated is well poised to meet the needs of the world's growing textile industry. The global staff of 145 continues to carry out the mission to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton through research and promotion. The Agricultural Research Department staff of 8 currently funds nearly 400 projects with principal investigators across the U.S. with concerted efforts in variety improvement, abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, and genomic research. Cotton Incorporated has sponsored the biennial Cotton Breeders’ Tour for over 2 decades and supports graduate student training in genetics, entomology, and weed science with its Cotton Incorporated Fellowship program. Also, Cotton Incorporated has been and continues to be a significant financial supporter to ICGI since its inception.

Other Local Information

  • Quarantine

The United States has very strict regulations regarding the importation of any plant or animal goods without prior application. If you are unsure about any material you are carrying, declare it at Customs when you enter the country. For more detailed information, please consult the US Customs web page for international travelers at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/.
  • Banking/Currency

Decimal currency is used in the United States with the US dollar as the basic unit (100 cents=$1.00). Paper notes come in denominations of $1.00, $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 and $100.00. Coins come 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents and (rarely) 50 cents denominations.
Currency exchange facilities are available at most airports, banks and hotels. Credit cards are accepted at many locations, and the most common are Visa and Master Card.
  • Business Hours

Most office business hours are from 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday. Post offices are open 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday, and a few locations are open until Noon on Saturdays. Banks are usually open from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday, but Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely located and available 24 hours a day.
  • Electricity
The United States uses 120v/60Hz plugs. As this is different than most other countries, you may need an adapter. Link to Pictures of the typical US plugs.          
  • Tipping
Tipping in the United States is typically 15%-20% and is not included in the bill (unless noted otherwise).
  • Medical and Travel Insurance
It is strongly recommended that international visitors seek advice and take out appropriate travel insurance and medical coverage. Overseas visitors may be required to pay in full all medical expenses incurred while in the United States, and prices are relatively high compared to the rest of the world.
  • Vaccinations
Check with your medical provider to make sure all your vaccinations are up to date. For more information regarding vaccinations and health information for the United States please go to http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx