The Ecological Society of America is hosting the Second International Nitrogen Conference (N2001) from October 14-18, 2001 in Potomac, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. The conference theme is "Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection."

Issues regarding nitrogen have taken center stage in recent years, since the production of both food and energy increase the amount of biologically active nitrogen that circulates within the world's atmosphere, soils, forests, and waters. The world's natural resources and environmental systems respond to nitrogen enrichment in both positive and negative ways. Speakers at the N2001 meeting will focus on how the benefits of nitrogen use can be maximized and the detrimental aspects can be minimized.

Members of the media and freelance writers are invited to attend this conference, which will bring together a diverse array of scientists, policy makers, nitrogen users and producers for a timely look at our current understanding of the science of nitrogen. Participants will include experts from around the globe, including plenary speakers from China, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, and the United States. Some 400 scientists are expected to attend.

Members of the press (including freelance writers and institutional press officers) are also exempt from registration fees and are free to attend all meeting sessions.

Meeting sponsors include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Fertilizer Institute.

Registration and meeting information, including a full list of plenary speakers and scheduled sessions, can be found on the web at: http://esa.sdsc.edu/n2001.

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Contact: Alison Gillespie
alison@esa.org
202-833-8773 x211
Ecological Society of America
18-Mar-2001