An Executive Order has been signed that temporarily bans travel to the U.S. by citizens of six Middle Eastern countries—Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Although this ban is being challenged in the U.S. courts, we are concerned that this action could impact or deter some people planning to attend ICMGP2017—the 13th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant taking place July 16–21, 2017 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. We sincerely hope that this ban will not disrupt the free exchange of scientific information that is vital to the global understanding of mercury pollution, impacts on the environment and human health, and its management.
We hope that delegates respond to this ban not by abstaining from the meeting, but rather by attending, participating, and exchanging information and ideas that are essential for improving the global environment.
We look forward to welcoming meeting attendees from around the world to ICMGP2017 and to continue to interact and participate in active discussions of the science of mercury and strategies for its management.
If you have any comments or concerns at any time, please email the Conference Secretariat at .