IHDP Open Meeting: Important notice

With many regrets, IHDP has to announce that the 7th Open Meeting, planned for 15th-19th October 2008 in New Delhi, will be postponed and relocated.

In recent weeks, the financial basis for the meeting was threatened by the devaluation of the dollar, the inflation of hotel and venue costs in Delhi, and increases in the cost of air travel. Unfortunately, we have therefore had to conclude that our goal of bringing together a significant number of scholars, including early career and developing country colleagues at a reasonable price was in danger and that an alternative venue for the OM needs to be sought.

We understand that this will come as a great disappointment to the many scholars who were preparing to come to the Open Meeting. We share this sense of disappointment and are keenly aware that in some cases this may seriously compromise existing plans

We are committed to holding the Open Meeting as soon as possible. We are currently assessing alternative venues and dates, and expect the OM to be relocated to or near our headquarters in Europe, in the spring of 2009. We will make an announcement about the new date and venue no later than July 1st 2008.

All panel, paper and poster acceptances for the Open Meeting remain valid. When a new venue and dates have been confirmed, all participants will receive full information about scheduling. We recognize the disruption that this will cause for some of you and are committed to facilitating your access to the new meeting location.

We are convinced that with this measure, we will be able to ensure that the 7th IHDP Open Meeting will become a full success and will once more provide an important forum for the international Human Dimensions Research Community.


The International Human Dimensions Workshops (IHDW)

We should also state that the International Human Dimensions Workshops (IHDW) will still be held at New Delhi in October as planned. This is because the substantial cost increases in Delhi that have affected the viability of the Open Meeting do not affect the IHDW workshops, which are held in different facilities.

The IHDP Secretariat in Bonn will be seeking additional funding which will allow participants in the IHDW to take part in the rescheduled Open Meeting.

If there are any queries about this announcement, please contact the IHDP Secretariat at


Thank you for your understanding.

Oran Young, Chair IHDP SC
Sander van der Leeuw, Treasurer, IHDP
Andreas Rechkemmer, Executive Director, IHDP