Professional Meetings

Local and national planning committees have begun gathering conference ideas for review. Plans include dozens of panels, field trips, newsmaker briefings, Freelance Pitchfest, world-class speakers, 2010 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism luncheon and more. To suggest sessions or speakers for the conference, you can fill out a conference suggestion form.

Participants in this week-long series of meetings between Mexican federal legal officials and U.S. climate change experts, facilitated by the Environmental Law Institute, will discuss their observations and insights and the climate change legal framework in Mexico.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Houston presents a talk by John Hofmeister, who retired in 2008 as President of Shell US, the US arm of the oil giant Dutch Shell. Since his retirement, John has founded and is CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy.

Noted marine biologists from Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, the Center for Shark Research/Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida and Mexico’s Project Domino will present their research at the Third Annual Whale Shark Festival in Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

At this Environmental Law Institute event, a panel will briefly outline the NEPA processes surrounding approval of drilling for oil in the BP/Deepwater Horizon incident and then discuss the role of so-called "categorical exclusions."

URBAN WATER LOSSES RUNNING AT 50% PLUS. Scientists, engineers try to plug leaks of resource more precious than gold. Journalists with an interest in environmental and water challenges are invited to apply for accreditation to cover this Sao Paulo, Brazil conference.

A recent GAO report indicates the ENERGY STAR product certification process is vulnerable to fraud and abuse. The Environmental Law Institute brings together a panel of EPA and DOE reps with commentators who will discuss the impacts to energy efficiency and the roles of consumers, investors, and the manufacturing bottom line.