 |
 10th International Soil ConservationOrganization ConferenceSustaining the Global FarmLocal Action for Land Stewardship May 23-28, 1999 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana |
| Sponsored by:
International Soil Conservation Organization
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
In cooperation with:
USDA Cooperative State Research, Extension And Education Service
|
Number of visitors since June 1, 1998
and:
* Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
* American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
* American Water Resources Association
* Association for Better Land Husbandry
* Canadian Society of Soil Science
* Conservation Technology Information Center
* European Society for Soil Conservation
* International Erosion Control Association
* International Society of Soil Science
* International Soil Tillage Research Organization
* Society for Range Management
* Soil Conservation Council of Canada
* Soil and Water Conservation Society
* Soil Science Society of America
* World Association of Soil and Water Conservation
An Invitation
The United States of America, in cooperation with its North American partners, is pleased to invite land and water conservation researchers, educators, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates throughout the world to participate in the 10th International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference, May 23-28, 1999, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. ISCO is an independent organization that promotes international exchange on the science, technology, policy, and application of land and water conservation.
The conference theme, Sustaining the Global Farm, Local Action for Land Stewardship, acknowledges that we all live together on this planet, that each of us has a critical stake in maintaining the quality of our global environment, that soil conservation has fundamental significance as the basis for sustaining life, and that stewardship of natural resources ultimately depends upon the individual actions of each and every person.
The 10th ISCO Conference provides a forum for land and water conservationists from around the world to come together to exchange information and ideas and to express their views on the "state of the world" and what can and must be done to achieve sustainability in land use. The meeting also provides an opportunity to extend the personal and professional networks that are critical for finding solutions to any global problem. And the midweek conference tour, along with the pre- and post-conference tours and workshops, will introduce participants to the conservation challenges associated with agricultural systems in the United States.
Please join us during springtime in the USA for what is certain to be a stimulating educational experience.
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| Pearlie S. Reed Co-chair ISCO |
Mark Nearing Co-chair ISCO |
Program
Land and water are critical natural resources that sustain human life and the lives of all other creatures on our planet. The careful husbandry of these natural resources is essential to world food security and environmental protection. When used in sustainable ways, land and water produce the food, fiber, and energy products that we all depend upon, and they will do so indefinitely. Sustainable use of land and water also is essential to maintenance of socially, economically, and ecologically viable communities.
It is imperative, therefore, that we invest adequately in research, technology development, and the effective transfer of new technologies. These are the roots of sound science on which the sustainable use of land and water resources is based. Sound science also supports sound conservation policymaking, which often is the stimulus for local action. In the end, however, it is local action-by the community or by the individual farmer or landowner-that will yield a degree of land stewardship sufficient to sustain our "global farm."
The defining characteristic of ISCO is its "inclusiveness." The scope of the 10th ISCO Conference, therefore, may encompass, but is not limited to, the following:
The science of land and water degradation, including soil erosion, and models and methodologies to assess land and water degradation, nonpoint-source water pollution, soil quality, and watershed health; applications of geographic information systems and related tools; the usefulness of prediction models and technologies for specific local and regional or watershed situations.
Local- and regional-scale surveys of soil quality or soil health from various parts of the globe, history and use of soil survey and its implications for land and water conservation, impacts of soil and water conservation on nonpoint-source water pollution, conservation of biodiversity, improving national and international information on land degradation, global climate and its implications for land and water conservation, agriculture's role in carbon sequestration.
Economic and social costs of land and water degradation, bioeconometric models to assess the economics of land management decisions, tests of why farmers do or do not adopt conservation technologies, socioeconomic constraints to achieving sustainability, linkages between conservation and both agricultural and environmental protection, techniques to compare the costs and benefits of improved land use and management, indigenous knowledge as a basis for land stewardship, valuation of environmental benefits from land conservation, global demographics and implications for land use, pollution credit trading, costs of restoration versus protection, and success of donor aid programs.
Processes, resources, and coordination of global, national, regional or watershed, and local conservation efforts; national policies to foster local partnerships and action; use of incentive and regulatory program mixes to achieve land and water conservation; building constructive bridges between agricultural and environmental interests; alternative institutional arrangements for information exchange and technology development; role of private institutions, including agribusiness, in conservation.
Examples of how individual farmers, groups of farmers, and/or communities are working successfully to protect land and water resources; partnerships, including rural and urban linkages, that have worked to conserve land and water resources; organizing public and private partnerships; use of culture-based networks to achieve sustainable land use; mobilizing for on-the-ground delivery of conservation programs; effective agroforestry practices; on-farm best management practices; salinity management technologies; environmental implications of precision farming; crop residue management for soil improvement and increased farm profitability; land application of livestock manure and other wastes, both agricultural and nonagricultural.
Conference Format
The 10th ISCO Conference will begin with registration and an evening reception on Sunday, May 23. Invited and volunteered presentations will be featured during the week's plenary and concurrent sessions. An exhibition during the conference will include poster papers, demonstrations, and educational displays. A mid-week tour
on Wednesday, May 26, during spring planting in the Corn Belt, will acquaint conference participants with natural resource management challenges on cropland and in the rural/urban fringe. Also planned is a banquet on Thursday evening, May 27.
Participants will also have the opportunity to take part and actively shape the outcome of the conference through structured discussion sessions on the state of the global land resource and strategies to sustain it.
Call for Contributions
The 10th ISCO Conference will provide an opportunity for individuals to present original ideas and information to an international audience of land and water conservationists. A program committee will review all abstracts offered and determine which contributions, in which form, will best meet the conference objectives.
All contributions must be offered in the form of an abstract. The deadline for submission of abstracts is October 1, 1998.
Voluntary contributions will be considered in one of three forms:
Abstracts
Abstracts for all forms of voluntary contributions-oral presentations, poster presentations, and exhibits/demonstrations-should be submitted in a computer format as: (1) ASCII text, (2) Microsoft Word (for DOS or Windows), or (3) WordPerfect files. Authors should specify on the abstract which form of presentation they are requesting. Abstracts should not exceed 400 words in length, and they should include the author's name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone, and fax numbers and, if available, an e-mail address. Each participant is asked to limit him/herself to a single contribution. If you have already sent an abstract, we request that you please send an updated copy between now and October 1.
Abstracts may be sent on a computer diskette with accompanying hardcopy, via airmail, to: ISCO99: Attn: Abstracts
| Purdue University 1196 SOIL Building West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1196 USA |
Abstracts may also be sent via e-mail to: isco99@ecn.purdue.edu
The deadline for submission of all abstracts is October 1, 1998. Individuals who submit abstracts for the meeting will be informed of the status of their abstracts by January 1, 1999.
All abstracts accepted for presentation during the 10th ISCO Conference will be published in a book of abstracts that will be made available to all participants at the outset of the conference.
Timetable and Deadlines
| Receipt of abstracts | October 1, 1998 |
| Receipt of requests for travel assistance | October 1, 1998 |
| Pre/post-conference tour reservation and deposit | December 1, 1998 |
| Conference registration and payment | February 1, 1999 |
| Workshop registration and payment | February 1, 1999 |
| Full payment for tours | February 1, 1999 |
| Housing reservation | February 1, 1999 |
Conference Proceedings
A peer-reviewed, post-conference proceedings of the meeting will also be published. All contributors are encouraged to submit full papers for the proceedings at the time of the conference. Papers should be limited to six pages of single-spaced text, including figures, tables, and references. All submissions must be made via electronic media, along with paper copy, as: (1) ASCII text, (2) Microsoft Word (for DOS or Windows) or, (3) WordPerfect files.
Mid-Week Tour
On Wednesday, May 26, during the 10th ISCO Conference, an all-day tour is planned that will introduce conference participants to important natural resource management problems in the U.S. Corn Belt. The timing of the conference is such that participants can observe the planting of corn and soybeans. On-farm visits will feature demonstrations of precision agriculture technologies, use of conservation tillage and related conservation treatments, manure management in confined livestock production systems, and the reclamation of mined land for agricultural purposes. Farmland preservation on the urban fringe will also be discussed, as will wetlands restoration.
Lunch during the day-long tour will be served at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500 mile auto race which will take place the weekend following the ISCO conference. Tour participants should be able to view the Indy-style cars during practice runs.
National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory
West Lafayette and Purdue University are home to the world-famous U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory. The laboratory is located just a few blocks from the conference venues at the Stewart Center and Purdue Memorial Union. Open-house periods will be scheduled so that conference participants can tour the laboratory and become acquainted with staff members and ongoing research on soil erosion science, prediction, and conservation technologies.
Registration
Participation in the 10th ISCO Conference is open to land and water conservation researchers, technicians, policymakers, educators, practitioners, and advocates throughout the world. Anyone wanting to attend the conference should complete the conference registration form and send it, via airmail or fax, to:
| Continuing Education
Business Office Purdue University 1586 Stewart Center, Room 110 West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1586 USA FAX: 765-494-0567 |
Each individual should complete a registration form. This booklet can be photocopied or additional copies can be requested using the address or fax number above.
Registration Fee
The conference registration fee, prior to February 1, 1999, will be U.S. $200. The registration fee after that date will be U.S. $250. The registration fee will cover the cost of receptions, mid-week tour, banquet, and all conference materials, including a conference portfolio, book of abstracts, conference program, and conference proceedings. The costs of housing, meals, and pre- and post-conference tours and workshops are not included in the registration fee. Numerous cafeterias and restaurants in the Memorial Union at Purdue University, as well as nearby restaurants, offer conference participants many food choices at reasonable cost.
Companion's Program
Programs have been organized for spouses and friends of conference registrants on Monday, May 24; Tuesday, May 25; and Thursday, May 27. These programs include visits to historical museums, parks, and a shopping center in the West Lafayette vicinity. The companion's registration fee is $75. This fee includes transportation and admission charges for the three days' activities as well as conference receptions, mid-week tour, and banquet.
Payment of Registration Fees
Payment of fees should accompany all registration forms. Payments can be made by personal check or credit card. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are the only credit cards accepted by Purdue University. Checks should be made payable to Purdue University.
Payments from overseas registrants must be made by credit card, bank draft, travelers checks, or via wire transfer in U.S. dollars.
The payment deadline is February 1, 1999. Registrations received after that date will incur a U.S. $50 late fee.
Acknowledgments
All registrations will be confirmed by e-mail, letter, or fax. Confirmations will only occur following receipt of fees. Confirmation will also include other information participants may need prior to the conference.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations of registrations should be made in writing and delivered to Purdue University, via airmail or fax, as much in advance of the conference as possible. Cancellations received after April 1, 1999, will incur a U.S. $50 cancellation fee. There will be no refund for cancellations received after May 1, 1999. Purdue University is not responsible for costs incurred due to cancellation.
Official Language
The official language for the 10th ISCO Conference will be English. Translation services in other languages may be offered during the conference plenary sessions, depending upon need and availability.
Housing Accommodations
Sleeping accommodations have been reserved for conference participants in three facilities: (1) Hillenbrand Hall, (2) Purdue Union Club Hotel, and (3) University Inn. Rooms at the Purdue Union Club Hotel and the University Inn are limited in number. Participants are urged to make reservations early for those rooms. Room rates do not include 10% hotel tax.
Cost per night*:
| Standard Room | Deluxe Room |
| 1 person $65 | 1 person $82 |
| 2 persons $71 | 2 persons $92 |
| 3 persons $78 | 3 persons $96 |
| 4 persons $104 |
*No charge for children in same room with parent. Limit 4 persons per room.
3. University Inn is located approximately 5 km from the Stewart Center and Memorial Union. Shuttle bus service will be provided to conference participants staying at the University Inn.
Cost per night: Single $64 Double $69
Booking Accommodations
The housing reservation deadline is February 1, 1999. After that date participants must make his/her own lodging arrangements. Please complete the Housing Accommodations Form on page 23 and airmail or fax to:
| ISCO 99 Attn: Mark Nearing Purdue University 1196 SOIL Building West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1196 USA FAX: 765-494-5948 |
Travel
There are several options for participants who fly to the 10th ISCO Conference in West Lafayette. Because the ISCO Conference is being held during the week prior to the Indianapolis 500 auto race, conference participants are urged to make airline and housing reservations early.
Travel Agent for 10th ISCO Conference: Imperial Travel Service will be pleased to aid participants in making travel plans and reservations. You may contact Mary Walker by phone at (765) 463-9555, by FAX at (765) 463-0186, by e-mail at impwest@imperial-travel.com, or by mail at:
| Imperial Travel
Service, attn: Mary Walker 1037 Sagamore Parkway West P.O. Box 2379 West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA |
Travel Assistantships
A limited number of travel assistantships will be available through ISCO and through other granting agencies. To qualify for assistance, applicants must make a contribution to the conference program, either an oral presentation, a poster paper presentation, or an exhibit/demonstration.
Conference participants requesting travel assistance should complete the Travel Assistance Application Form and submit it with the abstract of their proposed contribution. All requests for travel assistance must be received by October 1, 1998.
Participants are encouraged to seek travel support from their own government agencies or program sponsors.
The ISCO Organizing Committee, upon request, will be pleased to write letters of support to other organizations from which qualified conference participants might be seeking financial assistance for travel.
Pre- and Post-Conference Tours
Several pre- and post-conference tours are planned. These are optional events, with a specific fee attached to each.
All tour reservations, with a deposit of $200 per person per tour, must be received by December 1, 1998. Final payments for tours are due by the registration deadline of February 1, 1999. Spouses/companions must pay the full cost for tours.
The number of tour participants will be limited. If a minimum number of participants is not received for a particular tour, the tour will be canceled. Participants will be notified in the event of a cancellation and offered an opportunity to join another tour or request refunds of their deposits. Reservations for all tours will be accepted on a first-come basis. All reservations will be acknowledged by airmail or fax.
Tour fees include accommodations, transportation, lunches, and technical guides.
Not included is the cost of airline travel to and from those locations where tours commence or end, breakfasts, dinners, and personal expenses unless otherwise noted.
Pre-Conference Tours
U.S. Soil Survey Centennial Tour May 18-23, 1999
A day-long symposium at the Lied Conference Center located on the Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska, begins this tour, which will focus on the history, status, and procedures used in the U.S. soil survey. All meals for the first day and one-half at the Lied Center are included. A field tour through the U.S. Corn Belt will follow. Featured will be stops at the world-famous, long-term soil erosion research plots in Kingdom City, Missouri; and soil erosion and soil fertility experiments on the well-known Morrow plots in Urbana, Illinois. Participants will also visit areas of cultural interest in St. Louis, Missouri. The tour will end in West Lafayette, Indiana, site of the 10th ISCO Conference, on Sunday, May 23. Includes five nights' lodging and lunches. Participants are responsible for transportation to arrive in Omaha on the 18th by 6 p.m. The shuttle service from Omaha to the Lied Center is included.
Starting: Omaha, Nebraska, Tuesday, May 18, 1999
Ending: West Lafayette, Indiana, Sunday, May 23, 1999
Cost: $650 (shared hotel room) or $750 (single hotel room)
The Spectacular Pacific Northwest May 17-23, 1999
Tour will include the reclamation of a superfund site mining area, timber management in northern Idaho, the Grand Coulee Dam, the Columbia basin irrigation project, the geology of the Pacific Northwest, rangeland resources and management, irrigation management and research, salmon recovery activities, the Columbia Plateau PM10 project, and dust emission research. The tour will also proceed through the highly productive dryland grain-producing country of the Palouse, where participants will see and discuss the pervasive soil conservation problems on these highly erodible lands. Stops will include Spokane, Washington; Kellogg, Idaho; Grand Coulee; Prosser research station; Walla Walla; and the Palouse. The tour will take place over a five-day period, and includes six nights' lodging and lunches. Participants are responsible for transportation to arrive in Spokane on May 17 by 6 p.m. and from Spokane to the conference site in West Lafayette on May 23.
Starting: Spokane, Washington, Monday, May 17, 1999
Ending: Spokane, Washington, Sunday, May 23, 1999
Cost: $800 (shared hotel room) or $950 (single hotel room)
Post-Conference Tours
Arizona Tour May 29-June 4, 1999
This tour will include a visit to the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watersheds in Tombstone. This site, with its comprehensive system of nested, gauged watersheds, is renowned for hydrologic and sediment research in the semi-arid, rangeland environment. In Tombstone participants will also have the opportunity to have a glimpse of the Old West at the location of the "Shootout at the OK Corral." Participants will also visit the Saguaro National Monument near Tucson. Moving back toward Phoenix, participants will visit the productive irrigated agricultural areas and discuss the issue of water usage and conservation in this area. The trip will also include the Pinyon-Juniper ecosystem of central Arizona near Flagstaff, prehistoric Native American sites of the Pueblo Indians, and the scenic vistas of one of the greatest erosional systems in the world on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Participants should arrive in Phoenix by 4 p.m., Saturday, May 29, and can plan to depart Phoenix at any time on June 4.
Starting: Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday, May 29, 1999
Ending: Phoenix, Arizona, Friday a.m., June 4, 1999
Cost: $900 (shared hotel room) or $1050 (single hotel room)
Hawaii Tour May 29-June 2, 1999
The tour begins with a field trip to observe the diversity of land resources and transformation of land uses and associated environmental changes on the island of Oahu. It will highlight soil erosion problems and research on Oxisols, water quality enhancement efforts, combating nonpoint-source pollution, watershed and hydrologic unit area conservation projects, natural areas, and diversified agricultural activity to replace plantation crops. Lunch to be provided in the hospitable outdoor surroundings of rural Oahu or Waimea Falls Park. Then participants will fly to the Big Island of Hawaii, tour Volcanoes National Park and adjacent natural areas, lunch in the vicinity overlooking Kilauea volcano, and spend the night in Hilo. The next day will be spent exploring the Hamakua coast and prevailing volcanic ash (Andic) soils, emerging agricultural and forestry activities replacing sugarcane, cross the island and observe transitions in soils and land uses toward the dry (leeward) side, and arrive in Kona. Participants will have the option of staying overnight in Kona for the final night of the tour, or returning for the last overnight in Honolulu the evening of June 1. Includes four nights' lodging and lunches. Participants are responsible for transportation from West Lafayette to Honolulu and from Honolulu to their home.
Starting: May 29, 1999, Honolulu, HI
Ending: June 2, 1999, Honolulu, HI
Cost: $750 (shared hotel room) or $900 (single hotel room)
Pre-Conference Workshops
Several pre-conference workshops are being scheduled on the Purdue University campus in conjunction with the 10th ISCO Conference. Lodging is not included in the workshop fee. Participants must arrange their own lodging using the Housing Accomodations form on page 23 of this booklet.
The Pre-Conference Workshop registration and fee payment deadline is February 1, 1999.
A. Conservation Tillage May 22-23, 1999
The Conservation Technology Information Center is sponsoring a comprehensive conservation tillage workshop. This will be an integrated overview of conservation tillage systems in the U.S. Sessions will include discussion of tillage definitions, status and trends of conservation tillage adoption in the U.S. and the world, equipment used for various tillage systems, crop rotations, soil quality changes, soil loss relationships, and a systems approach to fertility, weed, insect, and disease management. In addition, the connection between tillage systems, precision farming, remote sensing, water budget, and bioengineered crops will be featured. The economics of different tillage systems will also be analyzed.
This workshop begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, and concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 23. Limit of 20 participants. Cost: $100, includes lunch, transportation, and workshop materials.
B. Geographic Information System Application to Soil and Water
Resources May 23, 1999
Conducted by the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at Purdue University, this workshop will include a hands-on introduction to GIS using a GIS tool (ArcView), with emphasis on GIS capabilities for watershed analyses, such as watershed delineation, flow route generation, slope estimation, etc. Participants will also have an opportunity to try applications of ArcView to water flow and transport from small watersheds, applications to Curve Number calculations, USLE and WEPP calculations, DRASTIC, site-specific farming, resource allocation, and other modeling issues.
This workshop begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 23, and concludes at 4 p.m. Limit of 20 participants. Cost: $150, includes workshop materials and lunch.
C. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Training May 21-23, 1999
Conducted by the RUSLE Development Team from the Agricultural Research Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and University of Tennessee, this workshop will present the science and technology behind the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. RUSLE is a revision and update of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), which has been widely used around the world. RUSLE retains the equation structure of the USLE, but each factor has been either updated with recent data, or new relationships have been derived based on modern erosion theory and data. RUSLE has recently been implemented for use on cropland in the U.S. by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and is being implemented in several other countries. Also, the USDI-Office of Surface Mining and Bureau of Land Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, and several state regulatory agencies are also now requiring use of RUSLE for erosion control planning on construction sites, mineland reclamation, and landfill covers. Several applications of the technology that demonstrate its flexibility for use in conservation planning, inventory of soil resources, mineland reclamation, construction, and international agricultural systems will be illustrated with hands-on practice. A brief overview of WEPP is included.
The workshop begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 21, and concludes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 23. Limit 20 participants. Cost: $200, includes workshop materials.
D. Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Training May 21-23, 1999
Conducted by the staff of the National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, this workshop will cover the science and application of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. WEPP is new-generation erosion prediction technology developed by a team of scientists from several government agencies and many universities from 1985-present. WEPP is a physically-based, distributed-parameter, continuous-simulation model implemented on personal computers. It can be used to predict runoff, soil loss, deposition, and sediment yield from small watersheds or individual hillslope profiles within watersheds. This workshop will present information on the science embodied in the model, model validation and testing results, and the progress of work to link the WEPP watershed model with a Geographic Information System. Two days of hands-on use of the model for typical field applications as well as applications of specific interest to workshop participants are planned. A brief overview of RUSLE is included.
The workshop begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 21, and concludes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 23. Limit 20 participants. Cost: $200, includes workshop materials.
Organizing Committee for ISCO '99
Pearlie S. Reed (Co-Chairman), USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Mark Nearing, (Co-Chairman), USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Andres Aguilar, Universidad Autonomia de Chapingo
Gene Alberts, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
C. Richard Amerman, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Vincent Bralts, Purdue University
Ann Carey, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Maurice Cook, North Carolina State University
Dave Cressman, Ecologistics, Ltd.
Julian Dumanski, World Bank
Robert L. Eddleman, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Samir El-Swaify, University of Hawaii
Linda Elswick, World Sustainable Agriculture Association
Hari Eswaran, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dennis Flanagan, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Susan Gordan, US Department of State
Guillermo Grajalcs, InterAmerican Inst. for Cooperation on Agriculture
Jerry Hammond, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
John Hebblethwaite, Conservation Technology Information Center
Mike Hickman, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Chi-Hua Huang, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Tom Huntington, US Geological Survey
Chris Johannsen, Purdue University
Paul Johnson, Oneota Slopes Farm
Rattan Lal, Ohio State University
Leonard Lane, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Gerry Luciuk, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Kristen Martin, US Environmental Protection Agency
Don McCool, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
William McFee, Purdue University
Rabi Mohtar , Purdue University
Henry Mount, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Curt Nissly, US Agency for International Development
John Nordin, USDA-Forest Service
Darrell Norton, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Christian Pieri, World Bank
Ken Renard, USDA-Agricultural Research Service (retired)
David Sammons, Purdue University
Sara J. Scherr, University of Maryland
David Schertz, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Berlie L. Schmidt, USDA-Coop. Research, Education, and Extension Service
Max Schnepf, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Charles Sloger, US Agency for International Development
Gary Steinhardt, Purdue University
Diane E. Stott, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Dan Towery, Conservation Technology Information Center
Glenn Weesies, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
General Information
West Lafayette, Indiana: West Lafayette, Indiana, located on the Wabash River, is a city of 26,000 permanent residents, plus approximately 30,000 Purdue University students. The city is located in the heart of the eastern U.S. Corn Belt, about 60 miles north of Indianapolis and about 125 miles southeast of Chicago. Purdue University is the designated land grant institution for the state of Indiana, with strengths in agriculture and engineering.
Passports, Visas, and Vaccination Requirements: A valid passport is required to enter the United States. A visa will be required of most overseas participants as well. Please check immigration laws carefully as you make travel plans.
Check with your airline or travel agency also about vaccination requirements.
Climate and Clothing: May is springtime in the United States, and the weather can be highly variable. Conference participants can expect daytime temperatures of 50 to 75 degrees F (10-24 degrees C) and average night-time temperatures from 40-70 degrees F (5-20 degrees C). Periodic rainshowers are likely. Reasonably light cotton clothing will be appropriate, with a jacket for evenings.
Dress for conference sessions during the day will be informal. Business casual attire (slacks and coat, without necktie) is appropriate but not essential for the conference receptions and banquet.
Currency, Banking and Credit Cards: U.S. dollars are the legal tender. Denominations of $1 or more are in the form of paper notes-$1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, etc. Coins are used for amounts less than $1-1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, and 50 cents.
Banking hours in the United States vary by location. Most banks are open each weekday from 8 or 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. Most are open on Saturday mornings as well, generally from 8 or 9 a.m. til noon or 1 p.m. Currency exchange booths are common in international airports, Chicago and Indianapolis, for example.
Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept international credit cards, such as VISA, MasterCard, Diners Club, and American Express. Travelers' checks are also commonly accepted. For conference registration purposes, the credit cards that Purdue University Conferences will accept include VISA, Mastercard, and Discover.
Restaurants: The Purdue Memorial Union and Stewart Center feature a number of cafeterias and restaurants with a variety of food choices and extremely reasonable prices. A number of other restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops are within walking distance of the conference venues.
10th ISCO Conference Correspondence
For General Inquiry, Abstract Submission, Application for Travel Assistantship, Housing Reservations, and Chicago Shuttle Service please use the following address
ISCO 99
Attn: Mark Nearing
Purdue University
1196 SOIL Building
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1196 USA
Phone: 765-494-8673
FAX: 765-494-5948Email: isco99@ecn.purdue.edu
Web Site: http://topsoil.nserl.purdue.edu/fpadmin/isco99/isco99.htm
I
For Conference, Workshop, and Tour Registration, and Tour Deposit information please use:
Division of Conferences
Attn: Nona Schaler
Purdue University
1586 Stewart Center, Room 116
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1586 USAPhone: 765-494-2756 or 800-359-2968, extension 92N
Fax: 765-494-0567
Email: njschaler@cea.purdue.edu
United States Department of Agriculture
U.S. Agency for International Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Geological Survey
Foreign Agricultural Service
World
Bank