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Demetri and Kevin, I really enjoyed attending the ICE, and only regret I
couldn't spend more time there. After attending the business meeting you
appear to have a really enthusiatic group of people with a common interest.
Its great to see, especially when so many shy away from interdisciplinary
problems.
I really have nothing to add to the suggestions from that meeting, but do
agree with several, including:
Holding the meeting on campus somewhere. This would hopefully cut costs a
bit, and maybe encourage more students (or more advisors to send students) -
would this also cut registration costs? I realize a small organization will
probobly cost more than the larger ones, but the initial registration fee
just about scared me away, and probobly would have even if I was not self
'employed'. This type of meeting is probobly an 'extra' for many people, who
may include other more specific meetings that they attend yearly (and can
justify to specific granting agencies - if necessary) in their yearly budget.
Online journal. I realize this is a pretty new thing, and may have some
trouble with gaining a reputation, but an environmental organization should
also try to set examples. IF this is really a less 'environmentally
destructive way' of sharing information, then it seems a better choice than
sending out tons of paper which mostly get filed away on some bookshelf.
Along these lines, the only suggestion I do have for the next meeting, would
be to cut down on things like the plastic coated folders....it just seems to
go against one of the basics....to cut down on disposibles in the first
place. I just got a paper to review from NIEHS, sent in a laminated folder -
my first thought - before even getting to the paper was - what a waste -
especially from a journal (Environmental Health Perspectives) that contains
papers on paper waste, toxicity from various methods of disposal, and
toxicity from processing this type of paper!
Themes. I never really understood the necessity for a very specific theme -
the meeting I usually attend yearly (Society of Env. Tox and Chemistry)
always has some theme...which hardly ever seems to come up during the
meeting! I think all the theme may do is scare some people away or may make
them think they have to 'fit' their paper into the theme. While the latter
may not be so bad, it might not be great if you don't want to give anyone a
reason to second guess their decision to participate. I guess one good
thing, if people really did try to fit into the theme, would be a more
cohesive group of talks, but this could probably be done within a session.
On the other hand - a very broad theme like the ones discussed (anniversarys
of major environmental meetings or legislation) may catch some peoples
attention.
Well I guess thats about all, like I said, nothing really new. I would be
interested in helping out for next years meeting if you need it, especially
since I'm not too far away from you (I'm hear Amherst) and would also like
to become more involved in the IEA. Finally, were you serious about next
years keynote? I'd love to do it if you were (and if you let me know
why...so that I could come up with an appropriate talk). Emily
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