Texas A&M International University will host the 105th annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Science to be held here February 28 through March 2.
About 400 scientists from various government agencies, university professors, and graduate and undergraduate research students from all over Texas and Mexico are expected to attend the meeting and to share their findings.
According to Dr. Sushma Krishnamurthy, Associate Professor of Biology at TAMIU and chair of the host committee for the 105th meeting, abstracts for 231 presentations have been submitted. The research presentations will take place March 1 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and again from 8:00 a.m. until 12 p.m. March 2. Categories under which presentations will be made include Biological Science, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Conservation and Management, Environmental Science, Freshwater and Marine Sciences, Geology and Geography, Mathematics, Physics and Material Science, Science Education, Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, Terrestrial Ecology, and Threatened or Endangered Species.
This year, three symposia are being held at the conference -- "Avian Ecology and Conservation in Shared Ecosystems of NE Mexico and Texas," the Río Bravo/Río Grande Symposium, and "Rock Art of the Border Region." This year's Distinguished Texas Scientist, Dr. Ian Scott, a chemist from Texas A&M University, will speak at a special session at 1:15 p.m. on March 1.
"It has been a dream of the Academy to include Mexican scientists in their annual meetings. While the territory of the United States ends at the Río Grande, ecosystems do not end with such manmade boundaries. Numerous Mexican scientists have been working on the ecology of areas across the border. This year's annual meeting in Laredo is particularly significant in that a special effort has been made to invite Mexican scientists," Dr. Krishnamurthy said.
According to Dr. Ken Tobin, Assistant Professor of Geology and director of the Center for Earth and Environmental Studies, "The TAS has received grants to encourage international participation by covering registration and travel costs for many scientists both Mexican and Texan." ChevronTexaco has generously awarded TAS a $10,000 grant in support of the 105th annual meeting. Additional resources have come from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation.
This year's Outstanding Texas Educator, Bobette Doerrie of Perryton High School, will be honored by the academy. The Science Education section of the meeting will be open to all science teachers in Laredo, free of charge on March 2. Ms. Doerrie will make a presentation at that time. There is a registration fee for those who wish to attend the entire meeting (Feb 28-March 2). The meeting dues are $90 before Feb. 18 and $105 after that date. Early registration is strongly encouraged.
La Posada Hotel Suites is the official host hotel for the meeting. Both La Posada Hotel and the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau have contributed to the conference in-kind. The local host committee consists of faculty from the College of Science and Technology at TAMIU. The committee members are Dr. Sushma Krishnamurthy, Dr. Neal McReynolds, Dr. Fernando Quintana, Dr. Ken Tobin, and Dr. Julio Valladares. The conference abstracts and schedule can be found on the website at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/tas/. For additional information please contact Local Host Committee Chair Krishnamurthy at 326-2584 or at skrishna@tamiu.edu.