Dissemination has always been one of the main objectives of the La Venta association. After Sydney in 2017, once again this year we participated in the International Speleology Congress which took place in France, in the splendid setting of Bourget du Lac, between the karst massifs of Chartreuse and Vanoise.

The congress saw over 1300 participants from five continents.

La Venta contributed 10 oral presentations and two posters, ranging from Tepui to Palawan, Atacama and Naica. We dealt with topics relating to topography with innovative techniques, the use of drones, biospeleogy and microbiology, the release of paleontological findings, the protection of the karst environment, environmental monitoring, secondary minerals. It was an opportunity to exchange knowledge with many friends and associations that carry on our same passion for geographical exploration and the underground world.

There was no shortage of awards in La Venta for the work done in the last five years. In particular, during the final Gala, La Venta received the following awards recognized by the International Union of Speleology (UIS):

- France Habe Prize 2022 from the UIS Karst and Cave Protection Commission for the Palawan project and the book "A cave between land and sea"
- Best Special Book 2017-2022 for the book "In the Heart of the Earth"
- Best Achievement in exploration / discovery 2017-2022 for the Naica project and the book "Naica, the Crystal Caves." We wanted to dedicate this latest award to the memory of Giovanni Badino.

We are very grateful to the jurors and to the whole UIS for recognizing the value of so many years of work for the exploration and protection of the underground world.
La Venta will certainly be present at the next international congress to be held in 2025 in Brazil, organized by the friends of the Brazilian Society of Speleology.