Members of the media and freelance writers are invited to attend the Ecological Society of America's 1998 Annual Meeting to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 2-6, 1998. This year's meeting is being held in conjunction with The American Institute for Biological Sciences and eight other societies. The theme is "Ecological Exchanges Between Major Ecosystems" and some 4,200 scientists will be in attendance. The meeting will feature symposia, field trips, and numerous poster and paper presentations.

ALL-SOCIETY OPENING CEREMONIES (August 2, 1998)

Rita Colwell, the newly confirmed Director of the National Science Foundation, will present the keynote address. Her speech is entitled "Environmental Issues in the 21st Century." Also speaking will be Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies. His speech is entitled "Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem: A Challenge for Science and Society."

ESA PLENARY SESSION (August 4, 1998)

Rosina Bierbaum, Acting Associate Director for the Environment of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, will deliver the keynote address, "Achieving a Sustainable Future: Challenges and Opportunities in Monitoring and Assessment of Our Nation's Ecosystems." William C. Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and William Matuszeski, Director of EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program Office will also speak at the plenary.

Please see below for a complete list of symposia. More meeting information, including symposia schedules, abstracts, and field trips, is available on the ESA Homepage at: http://esa.sdsc.edu

NEWSROOM OPERATION

Members of the press are exempt from registration fees and are free to attend all meeting sessions. A staffed press room, including copier, fax, computer, printer, telephone, and area for interviews, will be available. Please contact Gabriel Paal or Nadine
'"/>

Contact: Gabriel Paal
gabriel@esa.org
202-416-6181
Ecological Society of America
23-Jun-1998