The conference will take place at Storey Hall on the RMIT University campus, Melbourne, Australia, 14-21 February 2025. This conference will have four full days (Monday-Thursday) and a half day on Friday. There will be no parallel sessions, allowing the meeting to be more focused and simplifying venue selection. Monday through Thursday will feature daily focused talks and discussion on proposed coupling issues. Friday will focus on group discussion of open scientific questions, the opportunity to form collaborations and identify possible funding.
This meeting will take place in-person only. There will be no virtual component.
There are no official conference hotels. We recommend that you book a hotel within Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD). Free tram service is available within the CBD. Storey Hall is near the Melbourne Central tram stop. Two hotel recommendations from local Melburnians are the Pullman Melbourne City Center and the Mercure Hotel.
Tipping
From the Visit Melbourne website>: Tipping is not customary in Australia. You can do it at your discretion.
A service charge may be added to your bill. The service charge is typically declared on the menu and is paid directly to the company rather than to the individual staff member. You can find a nice overview here.
Airport Travel
Melbourne Airport (MEL) is the main international airport. It is also known as the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
To get from Melbourne Airport to the Central Business District you can take a taxi, schedule a rideshare, or take the SkyBus. Travel time from the airport to RMIT’s Storey Hall is approximately 25-30 minutes.
Driving
For those wanting to drive in Australia, the Victorian State Government website includes some key information on licensing and road rules etc. For instance, in Australia drivers use the left side of the road, and road rules are strictly enforced, including speed limits using unmarked cameras, and mobile (cellular) phone usage. Of course, Melbourne is also home to the infamous “hook turn”.
Weather
February is one of the warmest months of the year in Melbourne. The average high temperature throughout February is about 26 C (79 F) but this can vary so be sure to check the weather when you are packing. Importantly, the Chapman conference is being held during a time of year where one only needs about 15 mins to get sunburned. Sun protective clothing, SPF30+ broad spectrum sunscreen and hats are recommended; https://www.visitvictoria.com/practical-information/health-and-safety
Visa Information
All passport holders, except Australian and New Zealand passport holders, need a visa to enter Australia. New Zealand passport holders can travel to Australia without a visa and obtain a visa on arrival at the airport. More information is in Entry requirements for New Zealand Citizens.
Please refer the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs visa rules. Their website has a visa finder tool that can walk you through the type of visa required.
Low Income Country/Lower-Middle Income Country: $450.00 USD
Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries
Individuals who currently reside in developing countries as defined by the World Bank as low income (Tier 1) and lower-middle income (Tier 2) may register at the reduced rate.
Written notification of registration cancellations must be emailed to [email protected]. Registration cancellations received by 8 January 2025 will receive a complete refund. Registration cancellations received between 9 and 15 January 2025 will have a $50 processing fee deducted from their refund. No refunds will be issued for registrations canceled after 15 January 2025.
