THE WATER:
Lakes Effect: Great Lakes Overview
More than 30 million people live in the Great Lakes Basin, which contains one-fifth of the world's fresh water. The region is an industrial powerhouse, producing 60 percent of North America's steel and cars and products valued at more than $2 trillion a year. This panel will explore some of the current environmental controversies facing this 308,000 square mile region. Among these are proposals to withdraw or divert water from the Great Lakes, a multi-billion dollar proposal to enlarge the St. Lawrence Seaway to make it accessible to ocean-going tankers, and the contamination of Great Lakes fish with mercury and other toxic substances. An underlying issue is how can Americans and Canadians preserve one of the world's great natural treasures while accommodating continued population growth and industrial development.
Moderator: Jim Detjen, Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
Panelists:
Milton Clark, Senior Health and Science Advisor, Region 5, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Noah Hall, Senior Manager for Water Resources, Great Lakes Natural Resource Center, National Wildlife Federation
Gail Krantzberg, Director, Great Lakes Regional Office, International Joint Commission
Wayne Schloop, Chief of Operations, Detroit District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Location: Rangos Hall Three, Second Floor

THE LAW:
Freedom's Just Another Word...FOIA and 9/11
Are environmental reporters losing the information they need to do their jobs? Since the 9/11 attacks, government has pulled a veil of secrecy over a wide swath of the beat: chemical plants, drinking water plants, dams, etc., in the name of homeland security. Is this justified? Does it protect anyone? Is it legal? Does it cover up dangers to the public and poor government performance? Can reporters get the information anyway?
Moderator: Joseph Davis, Director, SEJ FOI WatchDog Project and Editor, SEJ/RTNDF TipSheet
Panelists:
Lucy Dalglish, Executive Director, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Sean Moulton, Senior Policy Analyst, OMB Watch
Elizabeth Withnell, Counsel, Privacy Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Location: Rangos Hall Two, Second Floor

THE LAB:
Emerging Issues: A "Tiny" Trio, from "Hormesis" to the Next Scary Disease, to Fullerenes
First, recent studies have found how some things that are bad for us in big doses may actually be beneficial in much smaller doses. Then, as we struggle to cope with West Nile virus and SARS, what'll be the next disease to rattle us? Finally, get a rundown on how nanotechnology promises to be the "next Industrial Revolution," and how that worries some environmental and health experts.
Moderator: Tim Wheeler, Reporter, The Baltimore Sun
Panelists:
Cate Alexander, Communications Director, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office
Robbie Ali, Director, Center for Healthy Environments and Communities, University of Pittsburgh
Joseph Rodricks, Toxicologist, ENVIRON Holdings, Inc.
Location: Wright/Peter Rooms, Second Floor

THE CRAFT:
Muckraking, Crusading and Objectivity: What Are the Rules Today?
What is the role of journalists as investigative reporters, editorialists or columnists vs. objective, neutral observers? A century ago, an aggressive muckraking press forced public awareness and pressure for reforms. What are the boundaries today between so-called "subjective" and objective coverage, in various genres? Can writers be passionate and committed, as well as non-partisan and factual? Can journalists switch venues? A columnist, magazine editor and investigative journalist will examine techniques, styles and ethics in today's media climate.
Moderator: Francesca Lyman, Freelance Environmental Writer and MSNBC Contributor
Panelists:
Derrick Jackson, Columnist, The Boston Globe
Mark Schapiro, Editorial Director, Center for Investigative Reporting
Kathryn Schulz, Managing Editor, Grist Magazine
Location: Danforth Lounge, Second Floor

Network Lunch
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Check your registration packet for a list of the speakers you want to meet and the topics you want to discuss (also listed here). The Network Lunch, with numerous table topics, will be concurrent with the four sign-up-on-site breakout sessions listed below the Network Lunch topics. Each Network Lunch table accommodates up to 10 participants (including leaders). Sit at whichever table interests you. Feel free to switch at will.
Location: Wiegand Gymnasium, University Center, First Floor

Network Lunch Discussion Topics:

1. SEJ 2005 in Austin
   Kevin Carmody, Austin American-Statesman
2. Building the SEJ Endowment
   Peter Thomson, SEJ Treasurer and Finance Chair
3. Hip-Hopping into the Frog Mystery: The New Science
   Jennifer Bails, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Rick Relyea, University of Pittsburgh
4. Freelancing & SEJ: Building the Network
   Jane Braxton-Little, Freelance Journalist
5. The Business of Freelancing: Queries and Beyond
   John Manuel, Freelance Journalist
6. Covering Conservation Ballot Measures
   Ernest Cook, Trust for Public Land
7. Conservation Biology: Measuring Success
   M.A. Sanjayan, The Nature Conservancy
8. Ground Water: Wellspring of Local Stories
   Steve Ragone and Cliff Treyens, National Ground Water Association, and Mark Schleifstein, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune
9. Pittsburgh's Environment: Sweeping Changes, Creeping Stories
   Bob Oltmanns, Skutski & Oltmanns and Ann Murray, The Allegheny Front
10. Big Hopes, Fears About Little (nano) Stuff
    Cate Alexander, National Nanotechnology Coordination Office; Lester Lave, Carnegie Mellon University; and Pat Phibbs, Bureau of National Affairs
11. Covering the Third-World Environment, View from Nepal
    Sanu Babu Silwal and others, SEJ-Nepal
12. Sneak Preview: US & State Population & Environment Reports
    Vicky Markham, Center for Environment and Population
13. US Environmental Service Companies Find Markets Abroad
    Deborah Lange, CMU Brownfields Center
14. Are Lax Third-World Environmental Laws Stealing US Manufacturing Jobs?
    Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
15. Flame Retardants, Rocket Fuel Additives, & Teflon, Oh My!
    Janet Raloff, Science News and Cheryl Hogue, Chemical & Engineering News
16. Bird-Killing Towers
    Jennifer Bogo, Audubon Magazine and Dan Boone, Citizens for Responsible Windpower
17. Terrorism & Environmental Health: Schools, Neighborhoods & Work
    Francesca Lyman, Freelance Environmental Writer and MSNBC Contributor, and Claire Barnett, Healthy Schools Network
18. Wrangling Over the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Rule
    Carolyn Johnsen, College of Journalism, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
19. Should Environmental Laws Apply to the US Military?
    Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
20. Reshaping a Story for Different Media
    Peter Lord, The Providence Journal
21. Journalism Jobs: Hiring Trends & Tips
    Matthew Kennedy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Mark Neuzil, University of St. Thomas
22. New Rules, Old Tricks in the Campaign Finance Game
    Edwin Bender, Institute on Money in State Politics and Jim Motavalli, E Magazine
23. Shifting Tides of Formaldehyde Science and Regulation
    Bernard Goldstein, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and Bill Dawson, Freelance Journalist

Lunch Breakout Sessions:

1. Future of Environmental Reporting
   How an editor with little green in his blood grew to embrace environmental reporting. An interactive discussion on stories that pump all blood types. SEJ members only.
   Moderator: Chris Bowman, Reporter, The Sacramento Bee
   Speakers:
   Rick Rodriguez, Executive Editor, The Sacramento Bee, and incoming President, American Society of Newspaper Editors
   Location: Frances Cost Dining Room (President's Dining Room), Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
2. Ocean News Coverage: What Are the Stories and Why Are They Relevant?
   The Oceans Commissions' reports have placed ocean issues in the headlines recently. Now what happens? What are the stories that resonate with the public and keep them engaged, and how can you frame some of the disconnects in ocean management involving scientists, politicians, and the legal process? Join two reporters and a marine scientist to hear what they regard as the most important issues facing the world's oceans.
   Moderator: Jackleen de La Harpe, Executive Director, Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting
   Speakers:
   John Crawford, Marine Scientist, Conservation Law Foundation
   Thomas Hayden, Senior Writer, Science and Technology, U.S. News & World Report
   Robert McClure, Staff Writer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
   Location: Class of 1987 Room, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
3. Sportsmen and the 2004 Election: Guns or the Environment?
   While environmentalists traditionally vote Democratic, sportsmen traditionally vote Republican. But, what's going to happen this year? The so-called "hook and bullet" vote might be a major factor in this year's election. Are sportsmen more leery of Kerry's record on guns, or Bush's record on the environment? We'll hear from two groups who have recently polled sportsmen around the country on these questions, followed by discussion and Q&A.
   Moderator: Jeff Mulhollem, Editor, Pennsylvanian Outdoor News, and Science and Conservation Writer, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State, and President, Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association
   Speakers:
   Adam Kolton, Representative, National Wildlife Action
   Jodi Applegate Stemler, Director of Communications, Congressional Sportsmen Caucus
   Eric Washburn, Executive Director, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
   Chris Wood, Vice President for Conservation, Trout Unlimited
   Location: General Motors Dining Room, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
4. Soul of the Environment: Religion and Environmental Action
   Many spiritual traditions call on humankind to honor the earth — as stewards or in other roles. Increasingly, religious groups and individuals are responding to this call through faith-based environmental action. Join us for a spirited, open discussion on the growing role of religion in the environmental movement. This discussion will include journalists, theologians, and a diverse array of activists representing several faiths.
   Moderator: Ann Rodgers, Religion Writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
   Speakers:
   Don Gibbon, Naturalist and Organizer, Pittsburgh's Spirit and Nature Conference
   Charles Hudson, Manager, Public Relations, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
   George Kehm, Professor Emeritus, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
   Marley Shebala, Senior Journalist, Navajo Times
   Location: Pake Room, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.

Concurrent Sessions 2
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.

THE LAND:
The Un-wild East
Some people say there is too much wilderness in the East. Others maintain there's not enough. This panel will focus on the economic, ecological, recreational, and community benefits and liabilities of wilderness designation in the Eastern states, with firsthand examples and perspectives drawn from the ongoing wilderness debate on Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest.
Moderator: Ben Moyer, Outdoors Writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Panelists:
Doug Carlson, Executive Director, Forest County Conservation District and Planning Department
Kevin Elliott, Forest Supervisor, Allegheny National Forest
Kirk Johnson, Executive Director, Friends of Allegheny Wilderness
Ed Zahniser, Senior Writer/Editor, National Park Service Media Development Group
Location: McConomy Auditorium, First Floor

THE LAND II:
Mass Extinction Today: Does Anyone Care?
We will discuss the evidence that the world is now in the midst of its sixth mass extinction, and the first since the dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago. Unlike the first five extinction spasms, human beings are to blame for this one. Why are so few people aware of this, and what are the consequences for every person and for the entire planet if thousands of species become extinct?
Moderator: John Kunich, Associate Professor of Law, Roger Williams University
Panelists:
Helen Fox, Marine Conservation Biologist, World Wildlife Federation
John Kostyack, Senior Counsel, Wildlife Conservation Program, National Wildlife Federation
Thomas Lacher, Executive Director, Center for Applied Biodiversity Sciences, Conservation International
Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke Chair of Conservation Ecology, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University
Location: Dowd Room, Second Floor

THE CITY:
Downtown and Dirty: Urban Park Renewal
Urban parks throughout the East are showing their age. We'll look at park restoration projects and strategies in Pittsburgh and other urban areas. Budget constraints and the need to appeal to diverse interests are just some of the challenges facing urban park managers.
Moderator: Phyllis Sides, Diversity and Culture Reporter, The (Racine) Journal Times
Panelists:
Meg Cheever, President, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Patricia O'Donnell, Heritage Landscapes
Location: Connan Room, First Floor

THE AIR:
Tackling Climate Change
Experts from the Bush Administration, the UK, and academe discuss viable policy options for addressing global climate change problems. We'll examine the science, economics, and international politics involved with climate change, and hear the Bush Administration position on all.
Moderator: Margie Kriz, Staff Correspondent, National Journal
Panelists:
David Garman, Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
Granger Morgan, Professor and Department Head, Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
Richard Morgenstern, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
Christian Turner, First Secretary, Energy and Environment, British Embassy Washington
Location: Rangos Hall One, Second Floor

THE WATER:
Why Are the Creeks Orange? Watershed Restoration
Acid Mine Drainage: Once upon a time, they dug coal from the mountains. And then the coal was gone and the mines filled with water. That water was acidic thanks to the high level of metals, and it spilled into the tributaries and rivers and tinged the water world orange. Now states across the country are trying to figure out how to clean up the mines, the water, and prevent abandoned mines from polluting again. We'll discuss case studies as well as damage and treatment options.
Moderator: Dawn Fallik, Staff Reporter, Science/Medical Desk, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Panelists:
Beverly Braverman, Youghiogheny Riverkeeper and Executive Director, Mountain Watershed Association
Dave Dzombak, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Eric Perry, Hydrologist, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Department of the Interior
Location: Rangos Hall Three, Second Floor

THE LAW:
A Darker Shade of Green: The Diversity Gap in the Environmental Movement
African-Americans and other people of color have been noticeably absent from much of the debate and the discussion within the environmental movement. Is that by design or have people of color neglected the impact that the environment has on their communities? As a consequence, are we missing out on some critical areas of discussion? Whose responsibility is it to raise these issues?
Moderator: David Jones, Senior News and Features Editor, Business Traveler
Panelists:
Derrick Jackson, Columnist, The Boston Globe
Vivian Loftness, Professor, School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University
Norris McDonald, Founder and President, African American Environmentalist Association
Location: Rangos Hall Two, Second Floor

THE LAB:
From Mad Cows to Bad Tuna: Food Safety Scares
This panel goes beyond the scares and looks at food safety as an environmental issue. Mercury, a power plant pollutant, is becoming more prevalent in fish and women's bodies. Mad cow has finally made it to America. And meanwhile, Salmonella, E. coli, and other tainted foods are still around in high numbers.
Moderator: Seth Borenstein, National Correspondent, Knight Ridder Newspapers
Panelists:
Dean Cliver, Professor, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California at Davis
Mike Diskin, Assistant Chief, Food Safety Program, Allegheny County Health Department
Carol Tucker Foreman, Distinguished Fellow and Director, Food Policy Institute, Consumer Federation of America
Plus 1 U.S. Department of Agriculture speaker TBA
Location: Wright/Peter Rooms, Second Floor

THE CRAFT:
Focus on Freelancing: Meet the Editors
Three top magazine editors will talk about what they're looking for in environmental news and features and give us the inside story on what freelance journalists want to know about these markets.
Moderator: Frances Backhouse, Freelance Writer
Panelists:
Jennifer Bogo, Senior Editor, Audubon Magazine
Dennis Dimick, Senior Editor, Environment and Technology, National Geographic Magazine
Michelle Robbins, Director of Publications and Editor, American Forests
Location: Danforth Lounge, Second Floor

Coffee Break
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Lobby Area, Second Floor

Concurrent Sessions 3
2:45 - 4:00 p.m.

THE LAND:
Old King Coal
Coal is still King in the Appalachians. This panel will explore the environmental, economic and societal effects of longwall mining in southwestern Pennsylvania and mountaintop removal in West Virginia, plus acid mine drainage cleanup by citizen groups and ongoing research on "clean coal" technologies.
Moderator: Brenda Box, Associate Producer, National Public Radio
Panelists:
Bill Caylor, Kentucky Coal Association
Thomas Hoffman, Vice President, Investor and Public Relations, Consol Energy
Cindy Rank, Mining Chairwoman, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
Edward Rubin, Alumni Professor, Environmental Engineering and Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Jeff Skousen, Professor, Plant and Soil Science, West Virginia University
Location: McConomy Auditorium, First Floor

THE CITY:
Consumer Goods from Cradle to Grave
This panel will discuss ways that both consumers and producers are working to create an environmentally sustainable economy. The discussion will be a mix of practical steps that businesses can take and case studies from the automobile and electronics industries. And, for those lost in the shopping aisles, we'll examine purchasing choices for consumers who want to make environmentally sound buys.
Moderator: Paul Thacker, Associate Editor, Environmental Science & Technology
Panelists:
Kim Carlson, EarthSmart Consumer, Today Show, KARE11-TV, NBC Minneapolis, and Chief Executive Officer of Cities Management, Inc. and SenEarthCo.com
Chris Hendrickson, Duquesne Light Professor of Engineering and Department Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Lester Lave, Director, Green Design Initiative, School of Public Policy and Management, Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Connan Room, First Floor

THE AIR:
Blowin' in the Wind
Despite strict emission controls within their jurisdictions, some states can't meet federal air quality standards because pollution drifts in across their borders. Older power plants in upwind states are viewed as major culprits. At this session, you'll hear representatives from the federal EPA, states, electrical generators, and an environmental group hash over what can be done about this complex problem.
Moderator: Cheryl Hogue, Senior Reporter, Chemical & Engineering News
Panelists:
John Bachmann, Associate Director of Science, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
William Becker, Executive Director, State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators/Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials
Frank O'Donnell, Executive Director, Clean Air Trust
Joseph Stanko, Outside Counsel, Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, and Partner, Hunton & Williams
Location: Rangos Hall One, Second Floor

THE WATER:
When it Rains, Sewage Pours
Almost every time it storms, much of the sewage in Pittsburgh and in 800 other cities never gets to the treatment plant. By design, it overflows into rivers. That's because older parts of the sewer system also carry the storm water runoff. Learn what cities and regulators are doing — or not doing — to stem the historical assault of combined sewer overflows on swimmers, public health and civic pride.
Moderator: Chris Bowman, Reporter, The Sacramento Bee
Panelists:
Jared Cohon, President, Carnegie Mellon University
Evelyn MacKnight, Chief, Office of Watersheds, Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Betsy Otto, Senior Director, Watersheds Program, American Rivers
John Schombert, Executive Director, 3 Rivers Wet Weather Inc.
Location: Rangos Hall Three, Second Floor

THE LAW:
ESA Update: Critical Habitat Area Designations
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and other environmental groups say designating critical habitat for threatened and endangered species increases the likelihood they will recover. CBD has repeatedly sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to implement this part of the Endangered Species Act. The Bush Administration and some Fish and Wildlife staffers say critical habitat designations do little to help listed species and are straining the agency's budget. The Administration is backing efforts by some members of Congress to make the provision of the law optional. Key players in this debate discuss the issues.
Moderator: Perry Beeman, Environment Reporter, The Des Moines Register
Panelists:
Jamie Rappaport Clark, Executive Vice President, Defenders of Wildlife and former Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Department of the Interior
Kieran Suckling, Policy Director, Center for Biological Diversity
Location: Rangos Hall Two, Second Floor

THE LAW II:
International "FOIA": Accessing Information in Canada, Latin America and Worldwide
Reporters from around the globe discuss difficulties accessing information in their countries. In some countries, including Mexico, new FOIA laws have opened unprecedented opportunities for curious journalists. Get the low-down on how to use the Canadian and Mexican FOIAs from your desk anywhere in the world.
Moderator: Emilia Askari, Reporter, Detroit Free Press
Panelists:
Miguel Angel de Alba, Freelance Journalist, Mexico
Mark Stevenson, Journalist, CTV News, Canada
Ernesto Villaneuva, President, LIMAC (Libertad de Informacion Mexico)
Plus 1 panelist from Nepal TBA
Location: Wright/Peter Rooms, Second Floor

THE CRAFT:
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Environmental Journalism (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Borrowing a format from speed dating, the SEJ Mentor Program is sponsoring this "speed mentoring" event. Participants will meet individually with each SEJ mentor for a few minutes. This is an opportunity to ask veteran journalists for career and writing advice, and any question relating to environmental journalism is fair game. The mentor panelists will share their top "dos and don'ts" for newcomers to the beat, along with tips for establishing a longer-term relationship with a mentor.
Moderator: Dawn Stover, Science Editor, Popular Science Magazine
SEJ Mentors:
Jane Braxton Little, Freelance Journalist
Jim Detjen, Knight Professor and Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
Dan Fagin, Environmental Writer, Newsday and President, Society of Environmental Journalists
David Fleshler, Environmental Reporter, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Christy George, Producer, Oregon Public Broadcasting
Orna Izakson, Freelance Journalist
Paul MacClennan, Environmental Columnist, The Buffalo News
Robert McClure, Staff Writer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Jim Motavalli, Editor, E Magazine
Janet Raloff, Senior Editor, Science News
Mark Schleifstein, Environment Reporter, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune
Tim Wheeler, Reporter, The Baltimore Sun
Location: Danforth Lounge, Second Floor

SEJ Membership Meeting
4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
SEJ members are urged to attend their annual membership meeting. Eligible voters will cast ballots to fill seats on the board of directors, and on proposed bylaws changes. Members will also hear brief financial, program and membership reports from SEJ officers and the executive director, and have the opportunity to discuss new business or share concerns.
Location: Rangos Hall One, Second Floor

Independent Hospitality Events
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Private groups will host receptions for SEJ conference attendees throughout CMU's University Center. This is a great time to relax, meet up with acquaintances from past years and sample what 2004 hosts have to offer. You'll find a list of hosts and room locations here, as well as in your registration folder.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, University Center

Beat Dinners
Meet 7:30 p.m.
Dinner reservations 8:00 p.m.
Restaurants noted in blue text

Last year in New Orleans SEJ members enjoyed this new idea for sharing a dinner-on-your-own night with colleagues, so we're trying it again in Pittsburgh. Join other attendees for a night on the town talking about the latest developments on your beat. These dinners will immediately follow the Hospitality Events.

Sign up at the SEJ Membership Table beginning Thursday morning for the Beat Dinner of your choice, and join other attendees for a meal and conversation about the latest developments on your beat. These dinners will immediately follow the hospitality events. Each one will be organized by an SEJ member and will be assigned to a specific restaurant. A list of topics is posted below. This information is also in your registration packet.

Attendees pay for their own dinners and are responsible for their own transportation to and from the restaurants. Dinner leaders will try to arrange taxi pickups and/or carpooling from the University Center. These details will have to be worked out individually by each dinner leader and his or her attendees. You will meet your dinner leader in the University Center at 7:30 p.m., exact location noted on the sign-up sheet.

Discussion Topics:

1. EJ & the Classroom: Teaching Budding Reporters to Cover the Environment
   Abruzzi's
   Dave Poulson, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
2. Balancing Work & Family Issues
   Joe Mama's
   Julie Halpert, Freelance Journalist and Margie Kriz, National Journal
3. Talkin' SEJ: Programs, Publications, & the Future
   Abruzzi's
   Perry Beeman, SEJ Vice President and Mark Neuzil, SEJ board representative for academic membership
4. Red States, Blue States & Green Slates: The Environment in 2004 Presidential Politics
   Abay
   Seth Borenstein, Knight-Ridder Newspapers
5. Dinner with 2 Goldman Prize Winners
   Ali Baba
   Julia Bonds, Coal River Mountain Watch and Terri Swearingen, Tri-State Environmental Council
6. Tools of the EJ Trade: Gadgets, Gear & Resources
   Lucca's
   Chris Bowman, The Sacramento Bee; Dale Willman, Field Notes Productions; and Amy Gahran, Freelance Journalist
7. Does Newsroom Diversity Color Environmental Coverage?
   Fuel & Fuddle
   Carolina Gonzalez, Freelance Journalist
8. Backlash! Or: How Wise Use Took the White House
   Sharp Edge Bar & Restaurant
   David Helvarg, Freelance Journalist
9. Space, the Final Environmental Frontier
   Old Europe
   Linda Billings, SETI Institute
10. Getting the Campaign Ca$h Angle into Environmental Stories
    Abay
    Sally Deneen, Freelance Journalist and Edwin Bender, Institute on Money in State Politics
11. Investigative Reporting on the Environmental Beat
    Red Room Café
    Mark Schapiro, Center for Investigative Reporting and Jim Bruggers, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal
12. Climate Change: Feeling the Heat
    Ray's Bar & Grill
    Jim Motavalli, E Magazine
13. Children's Health and Their Environment: Sick School Syndrome
    Joe Mama's
    Francesca Lyman, Freelance Environmental Writer and MSNBC Contributor, and Lois Gibbs, Center for Health, Environment and Justice
14. Do-It-Yourself Environmental Testing
    Lucca's
    Kevin Carmody, Austin American-Statesman and Sara Shipley, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
15. Are Government & Industry Protecting Chemical Plants from Attacks?
    Tran's Kitchen (Note: credit cards not accepted at this restaurant.)
    Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
16. Air Apparent: How Clean is Indoor Air?
    Ray's Bar & Grill
    John Spengler, Harvard School of Public Health and Camille Feanny, CNN
17. 18. & 19. SEJ BS: Talking with Your Mouth Full
    No set topics or discussion leaders. Two groups can meet and eat "on the altar" at Church Brew Works, and one group at Fuel & Fuddle.

Other Oakland-Area Dining Options
Just in case you aren't able to sign up for the beat dinner of your choice, here are some other local restaurants which may be able to accommodate your group. Please make your own arrangements.

1. Mad Mex: 370 Atwood Street, Oakland. 412-681-5656. No reservations, but killer drinks and good food.
2. India Garden: 328 Atwood Street, Oakland. 412-682-3000. Full range of Indian dishes, including many curries. Full bar. Price for a full-course meal: $10-25.
3. Union Grill: 413 S. Craig Street, Oakland. 412-681-8620. No reservations. Good beers and great American homestyle food.
4. Kava: 2000 Smallman Street (Strip District). 412-261-6565. Tapas, tapas, tapas. Interesting clientele. Food, like the staff, is plenty spicy and well seasoned. Fresh Caribbean herbs and spices, and a sizzling grill.
5. Dell's Italian Restaurant: 4428 Liberty Avenue, Bloomfield. 412-683-1448. Good basic homemade Italian sauces.
6. Hot Metal Grille: 2829 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh (South Side). 412-431-2300. American regional cuisine.
7. Le Pommier, Bistro Français: 2104 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh (South Side). 412-431-1901. Best French in Pittsburgh. Upscale.

Back to the top

Saturday, October 23: CMU's University Center and in the Field
All events are at CMU's University Center, 5032 Forbes Avenue in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, unless otherwise indicated (phone 412-268-2107). CMU campus map. Shuttles will transport attendees from hotels to CMU's University Center beginning 7:00 a.m. and running continuous loops between the University Center and the conference hotels until 5:00 p.m. Beginning 6:00 p.m., shuttles transport attendees to the Riverboat for boarding. Shuttles will return attendees to their hotels after the cruise at around 11:00 p.m. Please check the shuttle schedule in your conference folder for details.

Conference attendees will take a 3-hour dinner cruise on the three rivers around Downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Photo courtesy CMU.

Please note that SEJ members will be given preference in question-and-answer sessions.

7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Registration
  Check in here.
  Location: Wean Commons, First Floor
• SEJ Membership Table
  Sign up here for Saturday morning breakfast breakout sessions and Saturday afternoon minitours. You will also find the new SEJ/IRE book: "Covering Pollution" for sale, as well as information about SEJ membership and programs. Note: the membership table will be open until ~2:30 p.m.
  Location: Wean Commons, First Floor
• SEJ Reading Room
  Stop and browse through samples of SEJ members' work, including submissions to the 2004 SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment. Finalists' work will be on display.
  Location: Wean Commons, First Floor
• Exhibitor Tables and Booths
  You'll find a list of exhibitors here, as well as in your registration packet.
  Location: Wiegand Gymnasium, First Floor
• Press Room
  CMU's University Center is configured for wireless Internet connection. If you have wireless capability, you can pick up a configuration sheet at the SEJ Membership Table. If you need to plug in, the press room is in Class of 1987, Second Floor. (Note: The press room will be unavailable from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m.)
• Goodkind of Sound Conference Session Audio Tapes
  Stop by this table often to pick up tapes of sessions you missed or that you don't want to forget. Tapes are available soon after each session, or wait till the end and buy a complete set.
  Location: Hoch Commons, Second Floor

Beat Breakfast
8:00 - 9:15 a.m.

1. Trouble in Paradise: The Hidden Problems of the National Park Service
   The National Park Service manages the nation's natural and historic jewels, and is widely seen as a paragon of virtue. But the Service is plagued by maintenance backlogs of unknown magnitudes, budget and service cutbacks, and even — some say — efforts to keep staffers from speaking to the press. In this breakfast session, a park service retiree squares off with headquarters over the state of affairs at the NPS.
   Moderator: Diane Hawkins-Cox, Senior Producer, CNN
   Speakers:
   Lynn Scarlett, Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy, Management, and Budget, U.S. Department of the Interior
   Bill Wade, Coordinator, Coalition of Concerned NPS Retirees
   Location: Schatz Dining Room, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
2. Crossing the Border: Can Canada and the United States be Good Green Neighbors?
   Local communities in Michigan cry foul when their Canadian neighbors send garbage south for disposal. But the U.S. industrial Heartland relies on Canada as a place to ship its hazardous wastes. Meanwhile, industries in both countries send polluted air across the border — and both countries would like to regulate each other's emissions. Join us for a breakfast discussion on the thorny questions of cross-border pollution, international regulation, and differing standards of how much pollution is too much.
   Moderators:
   Saul Chernos, Freelance Journalist
   Jim Detjen, Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
   Speakers: TBA
   Location: Frances Cost Dining Room (President's Dining Room), Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
3. FOIA Breakfast Workshop
   Join members of SEJ's First Amendment Task Force and an environmental/FOIA lawyer for a lively discussion of why you should file FOIA requests, how to do it, and how to fight for information when you get turned down. SEJ members only.
   Moderator: Ken Ward Jr., Staff Writer, The Charleston Gazette, and Chairman, SEJ First Amendment Task Force
   Speaker: Patrick McGinley, Professor of Law, West Virginia University
   Location: Danforth Lounge, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
4. Forest Service Roundtable Discussion
   Everything's on the table, from agency efforts to protect and promote environmental services and the benefits they bring private forest owners to fire management and controversial timber sales and the recent decision to open up remaining roadless areas to road building and resource extraction.
   Moderator: Dale Willman, Executive Editor, Field Notes Productions
   Speaker: Sally Collins, Associate Chief, USDA Forest Service
   Location: McKenna Room, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
5. A Toxic Topic: The Science and Politics of Mercury Pollution
   The large geographic scope and consequences of mercury contamination and the enormous complexity of its interaction with the environment have prompted leading mercury researchers and federal land managers to take a hard look at the problem. In Washington, the regulatory and legislative debate over the best approach to address mercury pollution issues is far from complete. Join an experienced journalist and the director of the U.S. Geological Survey to discuss the latest research and policy, and gain insight on how the controversy is likely to proceed.
   Moderator: Darren Samuelsohn, Greenwire
   Speaker: Chip Groat, Director, U.S. Geological Survey
   Location: Hawkins Dining Room, First Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.
6. Cheerios and PIOs
   Join us for breakfast on the eve of this major election, as EPA media representatives return for a candid roundtable discussion about the agency, its actions and how to best get what you need from the agency when you need it. Virtually every EPA region's media staff will be represented.
   Moderator: Vince Patton, Environmental Reporter, KGW-TV, Portland, OR
   EPA Speakers:
   Cynthia Bergman, Press Secretary, Office of Public Affairs
   Patrick Boyle, Public Affairs, Region 3
   Phillippa Cannon, Public Affairs, Region 5
   Wendy Chavez, Public Affairs, Region 9
   Alison Davis, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
   Dave Deegan, Public Affairs, Region 1
   Bill Dunbar, Public Affairs, Region 10
   Dawn Harris-Young, Public Affairs, Region 4
   Rich Hood, Director, Office of Media Relations, Public Affairs
   Mark MacIntyre, Public Affairs, Region 10
   Mary Mears, Public Affairs, Region 2
   Location: General Motors/Foster Dining Room, Second Floor. Preregistration required. Please sign up on-site at the SEJ Membership Table.

Concurrent Sessions 4
9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

THE LAND:
Happy Trails to You: Recreation Conflicts and Impacts on Public Land
The increasing popularity of ATVs, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and mountain bikes is creating controversies across the nation's public lands as competing interests lobby to increase or limit access. Is there room on our trails and who decides? Speakers will explore recreation user conflicts, new federal proposals to regulate off road vehicles, and recreation fees.
Moderator: J. R. Pegg, Bureau Chief, Environment News Service
Panelists:
David Helvarg, Author, "The War Against the Greens"
Jerry Ingersoll, Off-Highway Vehicles Lead, National OHV Implementation Team, U.S. Forest Service
Scott Kovarovics, Director, Natural Trails and Waters Coalition
Larry Smith, Executive Director, Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
Location: Wright/Peter Rooms, Second Floor

THE LAND II:
Mining on Public Lands: What's the Drill?
Once upon a time the law allowed mining companies to purchase federal land for just $5 an acre. That giveaway has mostly stopped, but how can a statute passed the century before last still be hurting the environment today? Hear the prospects, from the mining industry's perspective, for cleaning up thousands of miles of streams tainted by hardrock mines okayed under the 1872 Mining Law. And finally: What can you say to kids growing up in a place called Leadville?
Moderator: Robert McClure, Staff Writer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Panelists:
Gillian Klucas, Freelance Journalist, and Author, "Leadville"
Carol Raulston, Senior Vice President for Communications, National Mining Association
Chris Wood, Vice President for Conservation, Trout Unlimited
Location: Dowd Room, Second Floor

THE CITY:
Don't Bug Me: Pesticide Sunset Laws
Scores of Canadian cities from West Vancouver, BC, to Halifax, NS — and including the entire province of Québec — are banning pesticides for landscape use. Meanwhile, San Francisco and several heavily populated areas in New York have passed 'sunset laws' that phase out pesticides on municipal properties, both inside buildings and out. Yet even with conventional methods, managing pests in public places can be a formidable task. Are these laws working? Is sound science behind them? What's the environmental cost of going off pesticides? And what questions should you ask if a pesticide ban comes to a town near you?
Moderator: Mary Woodsen, Staff Writer, Cornell University
Panelists:
Joyce Rodler, Integrated Pest Management Specialist, IPM Program of Suffolk County, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Deanna Simon, Toxics Reduction Specialist, San Francisco Department of the Environment
Edith Smeesters, Biologist and Spokesperson, Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides-Quebec
Location: Connan Room, First Floor

THE AIR:
What Goes Up...Could Go Down
Instead of blowing emissions up smokestacks and contributing to climate change, researchers at the Department of Energy's research center in Bruceton, PA, are looking at ways to sequester carbon emissions from power plants and manufacturing underground.
Moderator: Brian Stempeck, Carbon Reporter, Greenwire
Panelists:
Antonia Herzog, Climate Change Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council
Scott Klara, Technology Manager for Sequestration, National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Edward Rubin, Alumni Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Rangos Hall One, Second Floor

THE WATER:
Water Woes: State of Rivers in North America
Speakers will discuss ways to reduce industrial chemical pollutants by changing manufacturing processes, the latest information on water supply problems throughout the nation, and whether more flexible approaches to water-quality management, including nutrient trading among point and non-point sources, can improve water quality at a lower cost.
Moderator: Mark Schleifstein, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune
Panelists:
Terry Collins, Director, Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University
Paul Faeth, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, World Resources Institute
Charles Groat, Director, U.S. Geological Survey
Location: Rangos Hall Three, Second Floor

THE LAW:
Environmental Law Clinics: They Always Have a Story for You and Sometimes They're It
This session will describe what environmental law clinics do, how many there are, where they are located, and why they are sometimes controversial. Some have been embroiled in long-standing political controversies; some have achieved significant legal victories. Issues to be discussed include the role of academic freedom and ethical standards that govern the operation of clinics.
Moderator: Terry Carter, Senior Writer, ABA Journal, American Bar Association
Panelists:
Tom Buchele, Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, and Director, Environmental Law Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Edward Lloyd, Clinical Professor in Environmental Law, Columbia University
Peter Miller, Director, Media Relations, Vermont Law School
Location: Rangos Hall Two, Second Floor

THE LAB:
What's in Your Hair? Personal Testing for Environmental Toxicants
Mercury, lead, PBDEs and other harmful substances leave telltale residue in the body. Now you can find out how much of one of these substances — mercury — has bioaccumulated in you. We'll take hair samples Wednesday night and report the results on Saturday. What will the personal testing revolution mean for environmental policy and public health?
Moderator: Sara Shipley, Environmental Reporter, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Panelists:
Bernard Goldstein, Dean, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh
John Spengler, Professor of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
Location: McConomy Auditorium, First Floor

Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Lobby Area, Second Floor

Plenary Session
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Science and Politics
Everyone thinks they have science on their side: environmental activists, business associations, the left and the right. Inside the Bush Administration, scientists preach what they call "Sound Science," but outside, other scientists claim the White House is manipulating sacred research. Is science really apolitical? What will new scientific research standards from the powerful Office of Management and Budget mean? And are journalists who cover the environment flunking science?
Moderator: Ira Flatow, Host, "Science Friday," National Public Radio
Speakers:
Cornelia Dean, Senior Science Writer, The New York Times
Paul Gilman, Assistant Administrator for Research and Development and Agency Science Advisor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Neal Lane, Professor, Rice University, and former Director, National Science Foundation and Office of Science and Technology Policy
Raymond Orbach, Director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy
Russell Train, Chairman Emeritus, World Wildlife Fund, and former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Location: McConomy Auditorium, First Floor

Box Lunch with Exhibitors
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Box lunch provided. Last chance to check out the exhibitor tables in the Wiegand Gymnasium (University Center, First Floor)!

Movie Double Feature
1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Combining the double features of yesteryear with today's cutting-edge documentary filmmaking, SEJ has booked an entertaining and thought-provoking movie twin bill featuring "Libby, Montana" and "The Corporation." "Libby," by Drury Gunn Carr and Doug Hawes-Davis unfolds like a Hollywood thriller to chronicle what the EPA calls the worst case of community-wide exposure to a toxic substance — asbestos — in U.S. history. "The Corporation," by Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and writer Joel Bakan, examines the far-reaching repercussions of the corporate world's increasing preeminence in modern society through a series of illuminating interviews with Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, Howard Zinn and many others.
Location: McConomy Auditorium, First Floor

Mini-Tours
1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Logistics: Space is limited on each tour. Sign up at the SEJ Membership Table beginning Thursday morning for the tour of your choice. Check your registration packet for tour details. All tours will depart in the order they're listed below from CMU's University Center front entrance around 1:30 p.m. (unless indicated otherwise), and will return attendees to the conference hotels around 5:00 p.m. Hilton guests will be returned to CMU to catch a shuttle to the Hilton.

Please be sure to dress for fall weather and possible rain, and remember to bring drinking water.

1. Kayaking Three Rivers
This guided kayak/canoe tour lets folks touch the water of Pittsburgh's three rivers, which have been transformed from industrial to recreational and industrial. The outing will be preceded by a panel discussion in which experts will brief participants on the rivers' improvements. Fee at site is $20 per person for kayak and canoe rental.
Tour Leaders:
Marianne Rahn-Erickson, Freelance Audio Producer/Writer
Deborah Weisberg, Freelance Journalist
Speakers:
Tim Prevost, Manager, Wet Weather Program, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
Denny Tubbs, Aquatic Resources Specialist, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Davitt Woodwell, Vice President, Pennsylvania Environmental Council

2. Pedaling to Washington
You could start in Pittsburgh and pedal all the way to Washington, D.C., on the 152-mile Great Allegheny Passage and the 183-mile C&O Canal towpath. You could, but we won't. We'll pedal in and around downtown Pittsburgh, escorted by speakers who have helped put together the longest continuous rail-trail in the East. Discussion will include impacts and benefits of trails, bikeways and greenways. The ride itself will be generally flat and less than 10 miles. Fee at site is $20 per person for bike and helmet rental.
Tour Leaders:
Bob Batz Jr., Staff Writer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bob Downing, Environment Reporter, Akron Beacon Journal
Speakers:
Linda McKenna Boxx, President, Allegheny Trail Alliance
Paul Labovitz, Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance, National Park Service
Stan Sattinger, Montour Trail Council
Karen Stewart, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

3. From Slaughterhouse to Townhouses
Brownfields plague older post-industrial cities like Pittsburgh, and this tour will take a 1.5-mile walk around Washington's Landing, which used to be known as Herr's Island when a slaughterhouse and meat-packing plant operated there. Now there are townhouses, government offices, a racquetball club and a rowing club.
Tour Leaders:
Neil Strassman, Reporter, (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram
Peter Thomson, Freelance Journalist
Speakers:
Christine Davis, President, Christine Davis Consultants
Caren Glotfelty, Environment Program Director, The Heinz Endowments
John Matviya, Manager, Environmental Cleanup Program, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Southwestern District
Mark Schneider, President, Rubinoff Company

4. They Came for the Waters, and Now They're Coming Back
Come on a unique boat patrol of Pittsburgh's mighty rivers, looking for pollution and learning how grassroots organizations and government agencies find, report and stop pollution in the watershed.
Tour Leaders:
Joe Appel, Photographer, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Carolina Gonzalez, Freelance Journalist
Speakers:
Beverly Braverman, Youghiogheny Riverkeeper and Executive Director, Mountain Watershed Association
Mike Lambert, Executive Director, Three Rivers Rowing
Karl Thomas, Executive Director, Friends of the Riverfront
Farley Toothman, Attorney, Monongahela River Society

5. Ice Age Park

McConnell's Mill State Park: this is the closed mill on Slippery Rock Creek. Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The big boulders that border the gorge of Slippery Rock Creek in McConnell's Mill State Park mark the southernmost reach of the last Ice Age here. But this picturesque park also boasts a restored grist mill, a covered bridge and some of the world's best examples of terminal moraine landscape created when the ice retreated.
Tour Leaders:
Kim Kastens, Doherty Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
Carl Prine, Investigative Reporter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Speakers:
Jackie Bonomo, Vice President of Natural Resources Conservation, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Patrick Burkhart, Professor, Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, Slippery Rock University
Bruce Hazen, President, Slippery Rock Streamkeepers
George Jugovic, Senior Attorney, PennFuture
Chuck McQuade, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Heidi Solley, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

6. Building Green in Pittsburgh

A view of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, in the early hours before dawn. In the foreground are the roof tops of houses of several communities on the Northside in Spring Hill. Photo by Darrell Sapp. Courtesy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

We'll visit six projects and learn how green design and technologies have been used in new and existing buildings, including: Pittsburgh Glass Center, an open glass art studio housed in a 1920s former auto showroom; Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, which links two historic buildings with a contemporary structure; Alcoa Corporate Center, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and PNC Firstside Center — all prominent, new, Downtown riverfront buildings; and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the nation's largest glass house when built in 1893 and now expanding with a tropical forest exhibit and state-of-the-art production greenhouses.
Tour Leaders:
Patricia Lowry, Architecture Critic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Francesca Lyman, Freelance Environmental Writer and MSNBC Contributor
Speakers:
Rebecca Flora, Director, Green Building Alliance
Kevin Gannon, Principal, Davis Gardner Gannon Pope Architecture
Richard Piacentini, Director, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Gary Saulson, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Real Estate, PNC Firstside Center
Chris Siefert, Project Manager, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

7. Go With the Flow
A number of cities, including Denver, Chattanooga, and now Pittsburgh, are reclaiming sewers and returning streams to their natural courses. Pittsburgh's example is Nine Mile Run, a creek in the east end of the city that was severely degraded by sewage, storm runoff and a mountainous slag pile left over from the city's steel-making days. The unique project blended artistic and environmental sensibilities into a project that includes a new residential and commercial development and a naturally flowing stream and reclaimed slag pile. Join us for an hour-long hike along Nine Mile Run (weather-permitting), and an audiovisual presentation at CMU's Studio For Creative Inquiry.
Tour Leaders:
Jennifer Jordan, Reporter/Producer, The Allegheny Front
Kathy Knauer, Executive Producer, The Allegheny Front
Speakers:
Tim Collins, Co-Director, The Nine Mile Run Greenway Project, and Assistant Professor of Art, Carnegie Mellon University
Marijke Hecht, Executive Director, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association
Marc Knezevich, Senior Project Development Specialist, The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

8. High-Tech Solutions to Environmental Problems (walking tour)
We'll tour CMU's Office of the Future at the Building Performance and Diagnostics Lab, which aims to green-up the workplace with natural lighting, recycled materials and passive heating and cooling systems. Then, we'll watch one robot that walks on water and is equipped with biochemical sensors to monitor water quality or test for the presence of contaminants, and a "snake" robot that's being used by the Department of Energy to detect tank leakage.
Tour Leaders:
Jennifer Bails, Science and Technology Writer, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Vince Guerrieri, General Assignment Reporter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Speakers:
Howie Choset, Associate Professor of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Vivian Loftness, Head, School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University
Scott Thayer, Systems Scientist, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

Riverboat Cruise
7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Logistics: Shuttle buses will pick up attendees at hotels beginning at 6:00 p.m., and return them to hotels about 11:00 p.m., following the Riverboat ride. Please check the shuttle schedule in your conference folder for details. Driving directions.

The good juju will be flowing when we board the Gateway Partyliner, one of the Gateway Clipper Fleet of boats, for a three-hour cruise plying all three rivers around Downtown Pittsburgh. We'll have food and drink on board, hear a little about some of the city history and environmental changes, and then let the good times roll. No Bad JuJu, an eight-piece powerhouse band with a driving rhythm and horn section, will pump out an eclectic mix of classic blues, R & B, soul and rock. Pre-registration with $25 fee required. Drinks and dinner included. Dancing shoes optional but preferred.

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Sunday, October 24: The National Aviary
Allegheny Commons West
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412-323-7235
Driving directions.

Logistics: Breakfast will be served at the Aviary at 8:00 a.m., so grab something at the hotel if you need it sooner. Due to space limitations, pre-registration is required ($15 fee), but seats will be gladly given to standby passengers in the event of no-shows or cancellations. You must wear your badge to attend.

Buses will depart the conference hotels at the following times:
7:00 — Holiday Inn
7:05 — University Club
7:20 — Wyndham Garden Hotel
7:30 — Hampton Inn
7:40 — Hilton

Jim Fish, director of the living programs at the National Aviary of Pittsburgh, holds Benito, a Hyacinth Macaw that's been a resident of the Aviary for 10 years. Photo by Darrell Sapp. Courtesy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

America's only independent, indoor, nonprofit bird zoo, the National Aviary is located in historic North Side's West Park and is home to more than 200 species and 600 birds. The natural, planted exhibits allow visitors an up-close view of the birds, many of which are threatened or endangered in the wild. From hummingbirds to Andean Condors, the birds represent nearly every continent, with a particular emphasis on rainforest and wetland habitats.

Breakfast at the Aviary
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
To Russia With Love
Over breakfast, we'll watch an eye-opening presentation about a captive-release, crane-breeding project. White-Naped Crane and Red-Crowned Crane eggs are transported to the Khinganski Nature Reserve in the Amur region of Russia to be hand raised and released into the wild. And, we'll also hear a little about the plight of songbirds on our own continent.
Speakers:
Jim Dunster, Curator of Birds, National Aviary
Marilyn Heiman, Director, Boreal Songbird Initiative

Behind-the-Scenes Aviary Tours
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Guides will lead small groups on in-depth tours through the Aviary and discuss a variety of conservation issues. We'll even get behind-the-scenes peeks at today's avian research technology, including the hospital, the off-exhibit breeding area, the bird kitchen, the artificial incubation lab, and the bird holding room.
Tour Guides:
Jamie Cleaver, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator
Gerry DeLucia, Education Assistant
Andy Kemerer, Aviculturist
Dave Miller, Aviculturist
Chris Munch, Area Lead Aviculturist
Teri Thomas Roesch, Aviculturist

Environmental History Plenary
10:30 a.m. - Noon
From Its Filthy Past
The environmental history of the Pittsburgh region is an American story of note. From its giant, pollution-belching-factory past to its recent renewal and its new environmental challenges, Pittsburgh may well be an environmental icon. Its story exemplifies America's struggle to face its environmental past and future. Three noted authors will detail the environmental history of the Pittsburgh region and the recent efforts to restore it.
Moderator: Mike Mansur, Local Government Reporter, The Kansas City Star
Speakers:
Devra Davis, Director, Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and Author, "When Smoke Ran Like Water"
Thomas Hylton, Journalist, and Author, "Save Our Land, Save Our Towns"
Joel Tarr, Richard S. Caliguiri Professor of Urban and Environmental History and Policy, Department of History, Carnegie Mellon University, and Author, "Devastation and Renewal: An Environmental History of Pittsburgh and Its Region"

Noon
SEJ's 14th Annual Conference ends. Buses will return to the conference hotels no later than 1:00 p.m.

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