The Organizing Committee welcome you to the Fourth Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS4) hosted by the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Warsaw University and the Polish Hydrobiological Society in the historical city of Krakow, Poland, from 22 to 26 August 2005.

The Symposia for European Freshwater Sciences are coordinated by the Freshwater Biological Association, in collaboration with other European freshwater and limnological Associations. The Symposia are held every two years: the first was held in Antwerp in 1999, the second in Toulouse in 2001 and the third in Edinburgh in 2003.

Like the previous Symposia, SEFS4 will be devoted to basic questions in freshwater biology and various aspects of applied freshwater science. We would like to bring together all European scientists working on freshwater organisms, freshwater habitats, and freshwater systems.

Our logo features a legendary dragon that once lived in a rock-hole near King Castle of Krakow and died after drinking too much water from the Vistula River. Our Meeting should serve to assure people that healthy freshwater ecosystems are very important, both in their own lives and that of the whole Planet.

So, welcome to Krakow - the city of historical spirits. Joining us, you will meet other scientists for reciprocal inspiration and the sharing of mutual knowledge and... fun.