NSF invites science journalists to conference

Speakers include: Dr. Rita Colwell, director of NSF; Dr. Margaret Leinen, NSF assistant director for geosciences; Dr. Anthony Michaels, director of the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Southern California; and Dr. John McNeill of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and History Department, who will address how interactions between the global environment and global society have changed in the past century.

More than 100 scientists currently involved in studies on biocomplexity and the environment will present results of their work in talks, breakout group sessions, and poster sessions, and discussions will be held about the future of research efforts in this expanding field.

Breakout sessions will include discussions of topics related to biocomplexity and the environment, including education, infrastructure and global perspectives. Poster sessions will provide a chance for presentation and discussion of on-going biocomplexity research projects.

More information, including a complete agenda, including biographies of principal speakers, is available at: www.psava.com/biocomplexity2003.

Journalists who plan to attend should contact Cheryl Dybas, NSF press officer for environmental research and education, at cdybas@nsf.gov, or 703-292-7734.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering, with an annual budget of nearly $5.3 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions.

Useful NSF Web Sites:
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Science Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/stats.htm
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