Editorial

The XI International AERA Congress, organized by the Spanish Association for Animal Reproduction (AERA) in conjunction with the University of Cordoba, will be held on 12–16 June 2012 in Cordoba, Spain. This congress is the continuation of the regular activities of the association, aiming to show participants the latest advances obtained on animal reproduction by Spanish and international scientists. Ten meetings have been held since AERA was founded and 25 years have passed since Cordoba organized a similar event in 1987. This year, Cordoba will serve for some days as a forum to strengthen relationships and to exchange knowledge and experiences in this interesting area.

This congress intends to build a scenario for gathering scientists and clinicians who share common interests on animal reproduction. To this purpose, the scientific programme is composed by prominent experts who will debate current and innovative issues: Proteomics and Gametes, Reproductive Ultrasonography, Sperm Membrane Structure and Seminal Quality, and Oocytes and Embryos. International researchers will present communications and, additionally, a pre-congress workshop about writing scientific papers in English and four Wet Labs will be carried out. A great number of scientific communications have been received, which is an indicator of the high quantity and quality of research on animal reproduction in our country and the numerous collaborative works among international research teams.

With the current world situation at sight, scientific and technological research should be considered a pillar of economy, and no efforts to prove this fact should be spared. It is mandatory to be grateful to all authors for their worthy contributions and to express our thanks to the sponsors that have always been beside our association and have given support to this meeting despite our current difficult situation. I am confident that these will be long-term, fruitful collaborations for all of us. Thank you very much!

The organizing committee hopes you can join the scientific and teaching sessions and enjoy our wonderful town, its gastronomy and culture, during the congress. Science and entertainment will be hand-to-hand in Cordoba, and we expect our town to be the seed for future projects.

Conflict of interest

The author has no conflict of interest to declare.