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Local arrangements
About Pittsburgh
Smoky City, Steel Capital of the World, City of Bridges, and River City are all names
that Pittsburgh has gone by. The first two are no longer true since the advent of strict
air pollution laws and the collapse of the domestic steel industry. The latter two will
become obvious when you visit our City. Downtown Pittsburgh is basically a triangle
(referred to as the Golden Triangle) formed by the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers that
meet to form the Ohio River. It was first settled in the 1600's and quickly became a busy
gateway to the west. It's age, shape, bridges and rivers led to a rather haphazard
developmental pattern that has been known to make driving an interesting experience. It is
worth the hassle though. Pittsburgh is rich in history, surprisingly clean given its
industrial beginnings (we had a nice hatch of Hexagenia cover the downtown buildings this
spring that scared the hell out of office workers, not to mention the mess from eggs!),
with many interesting ethnic neighborhoods. It is big enough to have professional sports
teams, world-class medical facilities, major Universities, and a successful cultural
district, yet small enough to make it easy to see and do a lot in a short time. Boating on
the rivers is a popular pastime, and there will be several NABS activities that will take
advantage of the water. (Pittsburgh is second only to Dade County, Florida in the number
of registered boats). Parks line both rivers and provide great places for a walk, jog or
informal lunch. Tunnels and inclines that are either interesting sites or nightmares,
depending on whether you are sightseeing or commuting, traverse the steep hills. The
downtown area has a plethora of eateries, shops, bars, clubs and brewpubs. Within walking
distance of the meeting are museums, ballparks, the Science Center and nightclubs. A short
trip on public transportation gets you to the Oakland area, home to the University of
Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Art Museum, and the impressive
Carnegie Library. Nightlife in Oakland is typical of University towns, with bands, beer
and more beer. No one should lack for something to do. The Greater Pittsburgh Convention
& Visitors Bureau will be on hand to help you plan your stay in our City.
Climate in Pittsburgh
Late May weather in Pittsburgh is comfortable. The average high temperature is 24° C
(77° F) while the average low temperatures is 12° C (53° F). Temperatures can, however,
reach 32° C (90° F) in the day, or near freezing at night. The average rainfall in May
is 3.6 inches, and thunderstorms are rare at this time of year.
Conference Site
The meeting will be held in the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh. This hotel has a
Grand Ballroom, which will hold our opening and plenary activities. It has 4 rooms that
seat 350 each. A fifth room holds 150. Numerous smaller rooms will hold our committee
meetings and other activities. All of these rooms are on two adjacent floors connected by
stairs, elevators and escalators, making it easy to move from room to room. The entire
hotel is accessible to disabled persons. Two large foyers and other small rooms will
provide all the room we need for exhibitors, registration, and breaks. Our poster session
on Wednesday will be held in the Convention Center, across the street from the hotel. The
socials and mixers will be held in the Grand Ballroom. If needed, some workshops or other
activities may be held at Duquesne University (a short walk across town, and shuttles will
be provided).
We are expecting upwards of 1000 people at the 2002 meeting. It may also be necessary
to host representatives of local watershed groups to satisfy our grant requirements. The
hotel can easily handle the 1000, but if we get too many more, we will have to video
conference the Tuesday night opening session and Wednesday Plenary session to another
room. If that is necessary, seating in the main ballroom will be on a first come first
serve basis.
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