Part of this visit is to go to the International Phycological Congress. This brings together about 500 scientists and sci-students from around the world, including a fair number that have been students of mine at the siliceousl organism short course that I teach here every two years. So we have all come together for some pevo at the Cutty Sark – a favorite watering hole near the department. There must be friends from nearly ten countries sitting around the tables here.