XVI International Symposium on Flatworm Biology

About the Conference

Conference Mission
Flatworms continue to fascinate, with pluripotent adult stem cells,  remarkable diversity of life cycles and reproductive strategies, their enormous species diversity, and major impacts on human and animal health. The development of model species in different clades is now providing increasing access to unique biological mechanisms, while more and more high quality genomes are providing insights into the molecular evolution of the group. The XVI International Symposium on Flatworm Biology aims to showcase the latest findings in both free-living and parasitic flatworms and bring together researchers from these complementary communities. Sessions organized around three broad themes—“Molecular Mechanisms”, “Genomics”, and “Biodiversity and Ecology”—will highlight exciting advances across levels of biological organization, from molecules to ecosystems. Together, these contributions will emphasize the unique biology of flatworms and the new questions that can now be addressed within this taxon. The beautiful meeting venue in the vibrant historic city center, combined with generous free time in the program, will provide ample opportunity for in-depth discussions and for forging new collaborations across disciplines.

Conference layout
The XVI International Conference on Flatworm Biology will be a rather small meeting with a maximum of 120 participants, so early registration is strongly recommended. The conference is organized as a grassroots event with a minimal logistical footprint to keep costs as low as possible. Conference fees will cover the meeting venue, coffee breaks, and conference dinners on the meeting days. For lunch, we encourage participants to together explore Göttingen’s many restaurants. Tickets for the  conference social event can be conveniently booked and paid during the conference. Participants are asked to book and arrange their own accommodation. Please see the "accommodation" tab for a list of hotels at which we have reserved room contingents.

Abstracts, posters and short talks
The conference program includes two poster sessions. Participants are invited to submit their poster abstracts via the Abstract Submission tab (submission deadlines: 30 April 2026). If you would like your abstract to be considered for a short talk, please tick the corresponding checkbox during the submission process. Selected short talks will be announced together with the final program, and presenters are encouraged to also bring a poster. Poster boards will measure A0 size; please design and print your posters to fit within these dimensions. Materials for mounting posters will be provided at the venue.

Registration

The links in the tab Registration will first collect a minimum amount of personal information and your contact details, which will be used for subsequent conference communications. ​ The second step will take you to a PayPal link for convenient online payment of the conference fees.

​Invited speakers: Your registration fees are waived; however, please complete the registration process so that your contact information remains up to date in our records.

Registration Fees

1) Invited Speaker: registration fee waived

2) PI: 300 EUR registration fee

3) Student/Postdoc: 200 EUR registration fee 

 

Please also indicate when registering if you would be interested in attending the

• Social Event on Sept. 3rd (fee 50 EUR, to be paid separately before or during the conference - for binding registration please email to isfb2026@mpinat.mpg.de by Aug 27th). 
• MPI-NAT Planarian species collection guided tour on Sept. 4th (see programme).
• Taxonomic Satellite Symposium on Sept. 5th (see programme).