General information European Clay Meetings are held every four years, with a two-year gap between AIPEA International Clay Conferences which are also held on a four-year cycle. The organisation of the EUROCLAY 2007 conference was assigned to the Associação Portuguesa de Argilas (APA), the Portuguese Clay Group, by the General Assembly of ECGA (European Clay Groups Association) during the previous EUROCLAY 2003, hold in Modena, Italy. EUROCLAY 2007 venue will be in the University of Aveiro. Aveiro is located at about 250 km to the North of Lisbon (60 km to the South of Oporto). Also, Aveiro is distant about 6 km from the Atlantic coastline. It is a lively city with 75.000 inhabitants at the focus of an important region of business and enterprise. The main characteristic of the surrounding area is an extensive coastal lagoon ("ria") covering some 11,000 hectares between the land and the ocean. The City offers a wide choice of entertainment including bars, restaurants, night-clubs, cinemas, theatre and concerts and of course there are the thriving Portuguese cafés. If you're looking for history and art, Aveiro has museums, churches, monuments and public buildings of architectural importance and the town is very popular for its gastronomy, fairs and exhibitions. Founded in 1973, the University of Aveiro is now an exponent of quality and progress, occupying an outstanding place in the field of higher education. Part of the University’s success lies in the fact that it offers innovative courses that are closely allied with regional and national productivity. The most modern and complete infrastructures are at the disposal of the university teaching staff and students, providing all the facilities needed for their comfort and the carrying out of their work and study.