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We need to inform you that ISO voted in favor of creating the commission on karst. There is 1 more vote coming up on 23 June where ISO will decide if they want to change the proposal as they create a karst standardization committee. This is likely the last chance to deal with the matter. See the attached document on voting.

The early bird registration deadline was extended to the 30th of June 2018. See the updated form following the link.

The international show cave community organizes special events and offers during the International Day of Caves and Subterranean World, which is scheduled to the 6th of June. This idea and the date is gradually being accepted by increasing number of show caves around the world, many of them also being ISCA members. All those who haven't yet done so are welcome to join. The plan is to make this day also officially supported by UNESCO and first steps have already been done in this respect. (Press release linked to the headline)

The EuroSpeleo Forum (ESF), Europe’s premier speleological event, is rapidly approaching. For those still to register for the Congress, we hope the information provided in this 3rd Circular (PDF) will encourage you to join the event in Ebensee, Austria, 23rd-26th August 2018. We would like to remember that early bird registration on our website will be open only until the end of May.

The Spanish Show Caves Congress, an event not to be missed, celebrates its seventh edition in La Vall d’Uixó, Castellón (Spain). CUEVATUR is the meeting point in which subterranean tourism experts can share and exchange experiences. This sector has become the spearhead of innovative and sustainable tourism, as well as a channel to revitalize rural regions by means of the use of their natural and cultural subterranean heritage.

We would like to inform you that the 26th International Karstological School "Classical Karst": Show Caves and Science will be held from 18th June, 2018 - 22nd June, 2018, in Postojna, Slovenia. Since 1993, the International Karstological School "Classical Karst" has been organised annually, covering many aspects of karst research. This year we will focus on research related to caves dedicated to tourism (show caves). The main aim is to present and discuss a wide range of speleological issues addressed by different scientific and technical disciplines that are deeply involved in sustainable show cave management (morphology, biology, meteorology, nature conservation...), the monitoring of natural conditions and tourist-related activities in show caves. We believe that there are many good and bad practices of adapting caves for tourism worldwide to discuss and to evaluate the role of science - at least at Classical Karst we have opportunity to share knowledge accumulated in nearly 200 years of using the Postojna Cave System for tourism.

You are welcome to read our president's motivation letter.

ISCA was addressed by UIS to express its opinion on the proposal to establish a Technical Committee on karst aiming at: "Standardization in the field of karst terminology, sustainable development of karst resources, environmental protection and management of karst environment, as well as investigation and assessment (including modeling methods and mapping of karst systems)". ISCA Board of Directors and UIS Bureau agreed on the mutual statement that can be found together with original ISO proposal if you follow the headline link.