Scientists from 60 countries will begin arriving in Vancouver later this week for the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference. It is the first time in more than 30 years the conference has been held outside the U.S.
The theme of this year’s conference, which runs February 16 to 20 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, is Flattening the World: Building a Global Knowledge Society. Climate change, energy, agriculture, health, water, biodiversity, population growth and economic development are among some of the topics being covered at the conference.
Plenary speakers include Mike Lazaridis, vice-chairman of Research In Motion’s board of directors and founder and chairman of Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Scientists from the TRIUMF particle physics lab at the University of British Columbia are among the local scientists attending this year’s conference. A spokesperson from TRIUMF told BIV the lab will be using the conference to make an announcement about recent developments in radio isotope production.
In addition to seminars and lectures for scientists, the conference will feature two days of science demonstrations open to the general public. The free Family Science Days takes place in the exhibit hall.
The last time the AAAS conference was held outside the U.S. was in Toronto in 1981.
