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April 11-13, 2013. ACP is for American College of Physicians, and their show is all about Excellence in Medical Education. ACP’s goal is to provide clinicians with recommendations based on the best available evidence; to inform clinicians of when there is no evidence; and to help clinicians deliver the best health care possible. ACP develops three different types of clinical recommendations: Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Guidance Statements, and Best Practice Advice. The guidelines and guidance statements are based on a systematic review of current discipline-specific literature, while best practice advice is developed through a review of available evidence and guidelines, evaluating the value of diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions. A specialist section provides physicians with team-based practices for screening, diagnosis, and management of depression in primary care settings. So cheer up…
March 17-20, 2013. The National Postal Forum, we were told, is “Where knowledge and Innovation connect”. NPF attracts topside of 4,000 attendees. The delegates represent a cross-section of the entire mailing industry. More than 95% of the attendees are from the United States, and there are a number of participants from Canada. The Forum also attracted attendees from Mexico, the U.K., France, and Argentina, and from as far away as Singapore and Australia.
Aside from US Postal Service attendees, speakers and exhibitors, the average mailing industry attendee was typically middle to upper management, involved in buying decisions for mailing-related products. These attendees represented a cross-section of companies from the smallest to the largest. Sort of like the mail ranging from tiny envelopes to great big cardboard flatpack boxes…
February 2-7, 2013. PW stands for Photonics West, and it brings together 13,000 enterprises, the top worldwide companies and industry leaders in lasers, optoelectronics and photonics. Demand for smaller and cheaper optical interconnections inside computers, we heard, is becoming a main driver for silicon photonics, which in turn creates a new market of miniaturized, low-cost photonic components that can leverage the scale of CMOS manufacturing. Delegates could learn what industry leaders have discovered at the frontier of silicon photonics, and hear how this is about to revolutionize industries from computing and communication to biomedicine and imaging. Speaker panels included entrepreneurs providing solar-powered LED lighting to the developing world, sophisticated spectroscopy for environmental monitoring, and solid-state lighting. Was that a demo of a liquid lens, or an “optical” illusion…?
Dec. 3-7, 2012. AGU is the American Geophysical Union. (Geophysical union? It sounds like the world giving itself a giant bear-hug…). But seriously, AGU is a nonprofit corporation chartered under the laws of the District of Columbia, and it is “dedicated to the furtherance of the geophysical sciences through the individual efforts of its members and in cooperation with other national and international scientific organizations”. AGU, we heard, ”can secure a position as a leader, collaborator, and sought-after partner for scientific innovation, rigor and interdisciplinary focus on global issues.” The number one objective supporting this goal is, apparently, to… “Transform the future of AGU’s scientific publishing in an evolving marketplace.” Okaaayyy…. Ya still want that hug?
Nov. 29-30, 2012. CSBA is the California School Boards Association. The aim of the conference was delivering practical solutions to help governance teams from districts and county offices of education, in their efforts to improve student learning and achievement. Whether a veteran board member, a superintendent, a board support professional or a first-time attendee, delegates came away from the conference with practical ideas and a renewed commitment to help their board accomplish the critical tasks ahead. Issues could be related to budget and finance, student achievement, governance, community engagement, communication or collaboration. This event focused on key areas to guide governance teams through tough fiscal times. Kind of like “getting an education” on education…
Dec. 15-19, 2012. ASCB is the American Society for Cell Biology, and its conference is about “the science of life, and the life of science”. ASCB is an international community of biologists studying… well, the cell, the fundamental unit of life. These people are dedicated to advancing scientific discovery, advocating sound research policies, improving education, promoting professional development, and increasing diversity in the scientific workforce. There were daily programs that allowed attendees to follow new fields while benefitting from a meeting with the best researchers in cell biology. There was a keynote symposium by Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Arthur D. Levinson, Chair, Genentech, Inc., and Apple, Inc. But of course everyone had to be back in their “cells” by midnight….
Nov. 11-13, 2012. ISPE (the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering) is an international society for professionals involved in the engineering and manufacture of pharmaceuticals and related products. They provided various products and services that included on-going education and training programs, the ability to stay current on the latest industry trends on a worldwide basis, working with the FDA to develop Pharmaceutical Engineering Guides, articles, career opportunities activities and ISPE Discussion Forum Groups. Other events included a newly-offered Young Professionals Forum, Commuter Conferences, dinner meetings, facility tours, an exhibit show, and social events including the popular annual Fun Day, a golf tournament and winery tours. Wait. Can wine be “engineered” too…?
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