NASW Spring 2005 Annual Meeting (archived)

NASW 2005 Washington Conference
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Schedule for Tuesday, February 15, 2005

12:30-6:00 Half-day Field Trip 1:

Bring your curiosity and your inner spy to explore two outstanding museums of the city.

Cost: $23.00 (includes afternoon snack and museum admissions)

VALID PHOTO ID REQUIRED

Join us for an afternoon exploring, from a science-writing perspective, two of Washington, D.C.'s terrific museums.

We'll start with the new Marian Koshland Science Museum. Opened in April 2004, it differs from any science center you've experienced before: in a city of spin, the museum takes on the science behind controversial topics. We'll hear what goes into developing these exhibits, how they've been received by other science centers, and visitors' responses. In a special discussion, we'll learn how experts in numerous scientific fields participated in the development of the exhibits and the challenges they faced in communicating the science.

Then we'll sneak down the street to the popular International Spy Museum for a look at the science and technology of spying. In development since 1996, and opened in 2002, the Spy Museum is an inside look at the world of espionage and boasts an advisory board of directors with long histories in the field of intelligence. During the tour, you'll get a first-hand look at the devices that go beyond the standard reporter's tape recorder. Inside this jam-packed museum, you'll find commentary and context for a force that has shaped science and pushed policy.

This field trip will start at 12:30 at Marian Koshland Science Museum, corner of 6th and E Sts. (Closest Metro Stop: Judiciary Square)

12:30-5:30 Half-day Field Trip 2:

Jump on board for a trip to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. Field trip spots are limited, so sign up early!

Cost: $7.00 (includes afternoon refreshments and transportation)

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) conducts leading research on connections among ecosystems in coastal zones. The Center's main campus — encompassing 2,800 acres of woods and pastureland and 14 miles of shoreline near the Chesapeake Bay — serves as a hub for studies that extend around the globe.

Laboratory visits and round table discussions will explore:

• Biological invasions in coastal ecosystems past, present, and future: SERC is home to the United States's largest research group focusing on biological invasions in marine systems. Experts here examine patterns and effects of biological invasions on a national scale, evaluate effectiveness of management strategies to reduce invasion risks, and track patterns of commercial shipping and associated species transfers.
• Land-use practices and indicators of ecosystem health: SERC has more than 30 years of data on the impacts of human activity on coastal ecosystems. Discussions will focus on impacts of agriculture versus development, the efficacy of restored wetlands for improving ecosystem health, indicators of ecosystem integrity, and the newest tools and techniques for modeling ecosystem integrity.
• Human impacts on marine food webs: SERC researchers are exploring system-level responses to stressors such as the effects of hypoxia on food webs and the potential for enhancing various seafood species in the Chesapeake Bay.
• Parasites, viruses, and red tide: Working to understand exactly why, how, and when harmful algal blooms such as red tide occur, SERC researchers are exploring relationships between protists and their surroundings.

Information on departure point will be sent to participants.

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