Newswise — As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. The same is true for the first-ever Joint Annual Meeting of several scientific societies, 5-9 October at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, where the crowd will be large, the issues complex, and the collaboration unique.
More than 8,000 international scientists, professionals, educators, and students will present the latest research and discuss emerging trends in the Earth sciences, covering topics on energy, water resources, climate change, agriculture, science education, and related issues.
The Joint Annual Meeting offers an unprecedented technical program that showcases the scientific collaboration of the sponsoring organizations: the Geological Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, and Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies. Also participating is the Gulf Coast Section of the Society for Sedimentary Geology, the Paleontological Society, and hosted by the Houston Geological Society.
Program HighlightsThe meeting theme "Celebrating the International Year of Planet Earth," presents a program that is built around the ten challenging issues set forth by the International Year of Planet Earth (2007-2009) agenda. All events take place in the George R. Brown Convention Center unless noted:"¢ Sunday evening, 5 October: "The Impending Global Water Crisis: Geology, Soils, Agronomy, and International Security," by Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security and Sandra Postel, Global Water Policy Project, moderated by Joe Palca, NPR, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, General Assembly Theater. http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session5142.html"¢ Monday morning, 6 October: Keynote symposium, "Breakthroughs in Paleontology," highlights the Paleontological Society's centennial celebration, from 8:00 am-12:00 pm, General Assembly Theater Hall A. http://www.paleosoc.org/cent2.htm"¢ Monday afternoon, 6 October: "Questions about the Earth the Moon Told Us to Ask," by Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison "Jack" Schmitt at a luncheon, from 12:00-1:30 pm, Hilton Americas Houston, Ballroom of Americas ABC. http://www.acsmeetings.org/programs/events/joint"¢ Tuesday morning, 7 October: "Gender Bias in Academia: From Blatant to Subtle," by Brenda Buck, UNLV and "Generational Perspectives of Women Scientists," by Mary Lou Zoback, USGS (retired), from 11:30 am-1:00 pm, Hilton Americas Houston, Lanier Grand Ballroom AB. http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/techprogram/S4264.HTM"¢ Tuesday evening, 7 October: A public forum, "Understanding Evolution," will present the science and facts that support evolution. An audience Q&A will follow, from 7:00-9:00 pm, General Assembly Theater B. http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2008/PublicForum.htm"¢ Wednesday morning, 8 October: Plenary session, "Geobiology and Biomineralization: From the Origins of Life to the Origins of Cities," includes the paper, "Construction Practice in Complex Urban Systems," from 8:00-10:00 am, Ballroom C.http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session5146.html"¢ Wednesday afternoon, 8 October: The Plenary Session, "Carbon Sequestration: Methods, Markets and Policy," will highlight the soil carbon cycle and its potential to reduce atmospheric C02 and mitigate global warming, from 4:00-6:00 pm, General Assembly Theater Hall C.http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session5150.html
We extend a special invitation to members of the media to attend the oral and poster papers, view the 400+ exhibits, and cover this historic scientific exchange. Credentialed journalists, PIOs, and NASW members receive complimentary registration and access to the Newsroom, Room 350-B, George R. Brown Convention Center. To register, present a business card or other credentials to the Newsrooom. For assistance during the 2008 Joint Annual Meeting, 5-9 October, contact Christa Stratton (GSA) or Sara Uttech (SSSA-ASA-CSSA) in the Newsroom, +1-713-853-8329. For meeting information, visit: http://www.acsmeetings.org or contact GSA's Christa Stratton or SSSA-ASA-CSSA's Sara Uttech.
The Geological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1888, is a broad, unifying scientific society with 21,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 85 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members, and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.
ASA (http://www.agronomy.org), CSSA (http://www.crops.org) and SSSA (http://www.soils.org) are scientific societies based in Madison, WI, helping their 11,000+ members advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy, crop, and soil sciences by supporting professional growth and science policy initiatives, and by providing quality, research-based publications and a variety of member services.
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