Further Information
Important Dates
05 May 2024 First electronic distribution of conference announcement
15 May 2024 Second electronic distribution of conference announcement
15 September 2024 Deadline for conference registration and submission of abstracts
15 October 2024 COPCA Conference begins
18 October 2024 COPCA Conference ends
Getting to Malta
Malta is a full member of both the European Union and the Schengen Zone.
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Sea Travel
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It is possible to enter Malta by sea-ferry from Pozzallo in Sicily (Italy), arriving directly in the capital city of Valletta. The service is operated by Virtu Ferries and the trip takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. At least one crossing is made daily, although this may be postponed in the event of extreme weather or storms.
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Air Travel
The Malta International Airport serves as the entry point for air passengers arriving in Malta. Several direct flights exist connecting Malta with major European cities, including: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Rome, Milan, Paris, Marseilles, Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Frankfurt-am-Main, Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw, Bucharest, Dublin, and many others.
It is important to note that the airport is situated in the town of Luqa, which is approximately 5 km away from Valletta. After landing in Luqa, it is possible to get to Valletta either by bus or private taxi. The journey time by private taxi is about 20 minutes at a cost of approximately €30. Alternatively, bus number X4 (departing from the bus stop directly in front of the airport arrivals gate) arrives at the Valletta bus terminus after approximately 1 hour.
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For more information on flights to Malta and the local public transport service, click the buttons below, which will re-direct you to the official websites of the Malta International Airport and the Malta Public Transport Service.
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Abstract Submission
Attendees presenting lectures listed in the conference programme must submit an abstract by the deadline indicated above.
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Submitted abstracts will be published in an abstract booklet and circulated at the conference. Abstracts must be prepared using the conference template, which is accessible by clicking the document icon below.
Authors may submit their completed abstracts by sending them as either .doc or .docx attachments to the following email address:
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Once the submitted abstract has been received and accepted, you should receive a confirmation email within 3 working days.
ECR Presentations Competition​
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Early career researchers (defined as current undergraduate and postgraduate students along with researchers who received their PhD no more than 7 years ago*) are invited to contribute short, 10-minute presentations to the COPCA 2024 ECR Presentations Competition!
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The challenge will see early career researchers present their work and results to a judging panel of established scientists from various academic backgrounds under a time-limited scenario. Presenters will present their results for 10 minutes, and will answer one or two follow-up questions asked by members of the audience (including members of the judging panel). Presenters will be judged and scored on the clarity of their presentation (including the ramifications of their work), as well as on how well they addressed any questions asked to them.
Prizes will be also awarded at the conference dinner to those early career researchers whose presentations rank among the top three!
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Please note that presenters taking part in the ECR Presentations Competition are not required to prepare or submit an abstract for their presentation.
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*These 7 years do not include any time spent away from academia due to maternity or paternity leave, receiving medical treatment for physical or mental injury or illness, or acting as the primary care-giver to one or more dependents. The organising committee is fully committed to promoting inclusivity and diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and will not request justification for or details about any absences from academia.
Previous COPCA Conferences
2022 COPCA Conference
Valletta, Malta