Workshop on Genetically Engineered Organisms, Wildlife, and Habitats.
Monday and Tuesday, 5-6 November 2007
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies, UC Irvine, CA

Sponsored by United States Geological Survey, this Workshop will focus on identifying research needs for the effects of genetically modified organisms on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

The results of the Workshop will be summarized in a proceedings booklet to be produced by the National Academy of Sciences (in Washington DC).

See the agenda (pdf)
For further information, or if you would like to attend, please contact Susan Park (spark@nas.edu, 202-334-2742).
Vector Encounter Group
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. June 2008

But first a brief background on the Encounter. The Baltimore Vector Encounter is an informal yearly gathering of insect vector biologists (predominantly mosquitoes) that differs from the standard meetings or workshops in one critical way: there is no projection equipment of any kind used and the sessions consist of chalk talks, where people talk about their results and planned experiments but do not show any data. Another feature is that we break up into 4 or 5 groups, have discussions about current topics in vector biology, and then report back to the entire group. In addition, there is lots of free time (coffee breaks, long lunches, a common dinner) to stimulate interactions. Attendants come from the whole country and their number has varied between 60 and 90. The event is partially subsidized by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and there are no registration costs and most of the food is provided free of charge. In addition, in order to keep costs low and encourage broad participation from students and postdocs, we have been holding the event in the summer, when the student dormitories are available.

RESERVATION DATES:

Encounter: June 20(Fri)-21(Sat) 2008.
Regulatory Communication: June 18(Wed)-19(Thu) 2008.
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. June 2008

But first a brief background on the Encounter. The Baltimore Vector Encounter is an informal yearly gathering of insect vector biologists (predominantly mosquitoes) that differs from the standard meetings or workshops in one critical way: there is no projection equipment of any kind used and the sessions consist of chalk talks, where people talk about their results and planned experiments but do not show any data. Another feature is that we break up into 4 or 5 groups, have discussions about current topics in vector biology, and then report back to the entire group. In addition, there is lots of free time (coffee breaks, long lunches, a common dinner) to stimulate interactions. Attendants come from the whole country and their number has varied between 60 and 90. The event is partially subsidized by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute and there are no registration costs and most of the food is provided free of charge. In addition, in order to keep costs low and encourage broad participation from students and postdocs, we have been holding the event in the summer, when the student dormitories are available.

RESERVATION DATES:

Encounter: June 20(Fri)-21(Sat) 2008.
Regulatory Communication: June 18(Wed)-19(Thu) 2008.

IN SUMMARY, it is possible to hold the meeting on the campus of Johns Hopkins University. We have more information on dorm rooms to decrease the costs later in October.

Encounter Chairman:
Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Malaria Research Institute
615 North Wolfe St, E5132
Baltimore, MD 21205
Tel: (443) 287-0839 (office); (443) 287-0789 (lab)
Fax: (410) 955-0105
Email: mlorena@jhsph.edu

Regulatory Communication Workshop Chairmen:
Tom Miller
Thomas.miller@ucr.edu
(951) 827-2278
UC Riverside
Riverside, CA

Chris Wozniak
cwozniak@CSREES.USDA.GOV
(202) 401-6020
CSREES
Washington, DC