This message is to announce the formal inauguration of an international Advisory Committee on Category Theory conferences. The members of the Committee are as follows: Bill Lawvere <wlawvere@acsu.buffalo.edu> (chairman) Peter Johnstone <ptj@dpmms.cam.ac.uk> (vice-chairman) Jiri Adamek <adamek@iti.cs.tu-bs.de> Francis Borceux <borceux@math.ucl.ac.be> Ross Street <street@ics.mq.edu.au> Walter Tholen <tholen@pascal.math.yorku.ca> Richard Wood <rjwood@mscs.dal.ca> The Committee has been established in order to promote continuity in the organization of major international conferences in category theory, with the general aim of ensuring that such meetings take place on a regular basis. It does not intend to dictate the precise form of such meetings (and indeed has no power to do so), but it intends to offer help and advice to would-be organizers of conferences, based on the experience of those who have organized previous meetings. To achieve this, the Committee will regularly solicit proposals from individuals who may be interested in organizing such meetings. It will advise potential organizers on the timing of meetings, with the aim of avoiding undesirable clashes. It will also maintain records of past meetings, and will serve as a channel whereby their organizers can pass on their experience to organizers of future conferences, if requested. It should be emphasized that the Committee sees its role as relating only to major international meetings covering the whole of category theory (i.e. the sequence of which the three most recent terms are Coimbra 1999, Como 2000, Vancouver 2004 ...). It will not become involved with regional meetings such as the Peripatetic Seminar or the Octoberfest, nor with meetings on specialized topics within category theory. In keeping with the procedure outlined above, the Committee now wishes to invite proposals for future meetings. We are particularly interested to hear from people who may be planning a meeting in summer 2006, but those with plans for the longer-term future are also welcome to contact us. Initial contact may be made (in person or by e-mail) with any member of the Committee. 27-Apr-2005 13:04:19 -0300,4243;000000000000-0000001f