Australia. The city of Melbourne plays host to the 68th World Science Fiction Convention – ‘Aussiecon 4’. The annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society, which has affiliations in more than 30 countries, Aussiecon 4 is expected to attract 3,000 Science Fiction fans to Melbourne in 2010.  Aussiecon 4, secured for Melbourne by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), will include panel discussions on a variety of science fiction subjects, such as technology of the future, writing, publishing and the philosophical and sociological implications of the genre’s works.
Sandra Chipchase, CEO of the MCVB said winning the event attests to the city’s  diverse appeal. “Melbourne was chosen to host this event because of its world-class facilities, its cosmopolitan culture and of course its burgeoning science fiction community. “Within the last financial year, MCVB’s activities attracted in excess of 70,000 delegates from a variety of organisations to Victoria, injecting more than 149 million Euros into the State economy.” www.mcvb.com.au