In the general framework of the Congress, the following issues, with respect to the Mediterranean basin, will be considered of special interest:

-  Regional hydrogeology
-  Natural and artificial recharge of aquifers
-  Wetlands dependent on groundwater
-  Natural quality of groundwater and the fight against contamination
-  Protection and recovery of aquifers
-  Coastal aquifers and the control of marine intrusion
-  Desalination of saline waters and the elimination of brine
-  Legal, social, economic and administrative aspects concerning groundwater
-  Planning and management of groundwater
-  Sustainable use of aquifers

Additionally, various areas of specific interest, as detailed below, will be examined at the Symposia and the Workshop associated with the Congress:

• 3rd Internal Symposium on Karst: karstic aquifers, investigation in caves, karst and the environment.
  

• Symposium on groundwater in the great cities of the Mediterranean: urban hydrogeology, artificial recharge, reutilisation of wastewater.
  

• Workshop on Global Change and Subterranean Water Resources in the Mediterranean Basin: aquifer response to climate change, impacts on coastal aquifers and wetlands, socioeconomic and historical aspects.

Two excursions are scheduled: one will be for one day and will be held during the Congress; the other, following the Congress, will be for two days. A limit of 45 persons will be set for the post-Congress excursion. Participation in the intra-Congress excursion is free of charge for registered participants and those registered as accompanying persons, and open to all up to the maximum attendance permitted (45 persons per itinerary). For the post-Congress excursion, the corresponding registration must be made and the additional charge paid. Excursion places will be confirmed in the order of registration fees received. The intra-Congress excursion will be held on 26 April, with four optional itineraries:

• Karstic aquifers and landscape: Torcal de Antequera and Fuendepiedra Lake, to the north of the city of Málaga
  

• Water and karstic cavities: Cueva del Tesoro and Cueva de Nerja, to the east of the city of Málaga
  

• Water in tourist zones: Hydrogeology of the western Costa del Sol Occidental and the Marbella desalination plant, to the west of the city of Málaga.

• Guadalhorce river itinerary. Water supply for the city of Málaga.

The post-Congress excursion will be held on 29-30 April, with the following programme:

• Day 1: Málaga-Río Vélez-Polje de Zafarraya-Balneario de Alhama de Granada- Granada; evening visit to the Alhambra (Granada)
  

• Day 2: Granada-Lanjarón-Delta del Guadalfeo-Málaga.

Those accompanying Congress participants will be entitled to attend all the social events and the intra-Congress excursion on 26 April. A special programme has been organised for 25 and 27 April to visit the most interesting sights of the city of Málaga, including the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba-Roman Theatre archaeological complex, the Cathedral and the century-old gardens of La Concepción.

Those participants who wish to present communications should provide an Abstract of the content before 15 November 2005. The format for this Abstract and the norms for the preparation of the communications can be consulted on the Congress web page. Communications presented at the AQUAinMED Congress shall have a maximum length of four pages. The texts presented at the Symposia and at the Workshop shall have a maximum length of 10 pages (including text, figures and references).

The presentation of the communications and of the contributions to the Symposia and the Workshop can be in poster format or as an oral presentation.

The authors may state their preferred form of presentation (poster or oral), but the Congress organisation reserves the right to the final decision on the mode of presentation, depending on the number of texts presented and on the opinion of the Scientific Committee; this decision will be communicated to the authors well in advance of the Congress.

A book will be published to record each of the Congress events, if sufficient contributions are forthcoming and if the Scientific Committee gives its approval.

Modified and improved versions of the communications will be published in prestigious journals, provided the necessary quality criteria are met and that the texts are accepted by the corresponding editorial committees.

The Malaga Academy of Science intends to make a special award for each of the communications presented, taking into account criteria of quality and other aspects concerning the geographic situation of the Congress.

The instructions for the presentation of communications are set out in the pdf document that can be downloaded from this page.