Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is a great pleasure, on behalf of the Local Organising Committee, to warmly welcome you to Napoli for the International Conference on Copepoda 2027.

More than thirty years after the 6^th International Conference on Copepoda in Oldenburg, Germany, the World Association of Copepodologists (WAC) is bringing the international copepod research community back to Europe. We are truly honoured that Napoli and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN) have been chosen to host this important event.

The choice of Napoli is also deeply connected to the history of copepodology itself. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Stazione Zoologica played a pivotal role in the development of marine zoology and in the study and taxonomy of copepods, during what is often regarded as the Golden Age of Copepodology. Among the milestones of this remarkable heritage is Wilhelm Giesbrecht’s monumental monograph, Systematik und Faunistik der pelagischen Copepoden des Golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden Meeres-Abschnitte, which established the Gulf of Naples and the Mediterranean Sea as a landmark for copepod research. More than a century later, the Stazione Zoologica remains an internationally recognised centre for marine research, and copepods continue to be an important part of its scientific tradition. Hosting the 16^th ICOC here will therefore be a unique opportunity to connect this extraordinary heritage with the latest developments and future directions of copepod research.

The 16^th ICOC will bring together researchers, taxonomists, ecologists, molecular biologists, students and young scientists from around the world to share discoveries, exchange ideas, renew collaborations and build new connections within the global copepod research community, focusing on one of the most abundant and ecologically important groups of metazoans on our planet.

The programme will include a pre-conference workshop, with particular attention to postgraduate students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, followed by a five-day scientific conference with thematic sessions, keynote speakers and opportunities for scientific exchange. A conference excursion will also allow participants to discover some of the unique cultural and natural heritage of Napoli and the surrounding region.

We particularly hope that the Conference will encourage participation from colleagues in the southern Mediterranean region and Africa, helping to foster a more connected and inclusive international community of copepodologists.

Beyond the scientific programme, we look forward to sharing with you the unique atmosphere of Napoli and the Stazione Zoologica, including a special welcome event and visits to its historic collections and facilities.

We hope that the 16^th ICOC will be more than a scientific meeting: a place where ideas are exchanged, collaborations are born, friendships are renewed, and young scientists are inspired.

After more than a century of copepod research in the Gulf of Naples, it will be a particular pleasure to welcome the international copepodological community back to this remarkable place.

We look forward to seeing you in Naples in 2027!

Iole Di Capua
General Organizing Chair