Welcome to the 6th International Symposium on the Biology of Vertebrate Sex Determination.

Our first meeting in 1997 was held in a rather cramped hotel in busy and distracting Waikiki in Honolulu, Oahu. By the time of the third meeting in 2003 we had moved to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, a much more relaxed atmosphere, and we have stayed there ever since. This meeting will also be held in Kona, but back at the spacious and refurbished King Kamehameha Hotel.

The theme of this symposium has from the start been the evolution of modes of sex determination. We hope to see more papers on this topic and more papers on neglected taxa.

In keeping with the digital age we will try to save paper and postage and insist on electronic submission of abstracts, registration etc, but we will print a book of abstracts that will be available at registration.

We would particularly like to note the fund raising efforts of Blanche Capel and Richard Behringer that have been critical to our ability to support these symposiums and to providing support for graduate students.

Looking forward to seeing you in Kona, and don't forget your sunscreen.

Val Lance and Mark Bogart