17 September 2014
2014 Fall Meeting
Media Advisory 1
Moscone Center
San Francisco, California
15-19 December 2014
WASHINGTON, DC— Discover the latest Earth and space science news at the 47th annual AGU Fall Meeting this December, when about 24,000 scientists from around the globe are expected to assemble for the largest worldwide conference in the Earth and space sciences. This year, the meeting runs from Monday through Friday, Dec. 15-19, at the Moscone Center, 747 Howard St., San Francisco, Calif.
Included in this advisory:
1. Information about the meeting for journalists and public information officers
2. Press registration information
3. Hotel information
4. Virtual Press Room launches in November
5. U.S. visa regulations for international attendees
1. Information about the meeting for journalists and public information officers
Journalists attending the Fall Meeting can learn about the latest research in fields as diverse as the changing Arctic, mega tsunamis, comets and asteroids, weather and climate extremes, landslides, big data and more. The preliminary program includes over 1,100 proposed sessions. Note: The current program is subject to change. A full program listing, along with the schedule of press conferences highlighting news being presented at the meeting, will be announced in subsequent advisories.
Public information officers of universities, government agencies, and research institutions can use the Fall Meeting as an opportunity to present research to more than 150 on-site reporters through press releases, press conferences, a virtual press room, and one-on-one contact with the press. If you have an idea for a press conference, please email [email protected] for a copy of the press conference proposal form. The deadline to propose a press conference is Oct. 10.
2. Press registration Information
Online press registration for the Fall Meeting is now open. Please pre-register to expedite the on-site badge pick-up process.
Press registrants receive, at no charge, a badge that provides access to all scientific sessions, the press room and the press conference room. For eligibility requirements, please visit the Press Registration Eligibility Requirements page.
Eligible members of the press may also register on-site at the meeting. The on-site registration location, badge pick-up location, and Press Room, Press Conference Room, and Quiet Rooms locations will be included in a future advisory.
3. Hotel information – book now for the best selection!
Hotel reservations are accessible via the online press registration site. It is not required to wait for press registration approval before booking a hotel room, nor is it required to book a hotel room when registering to attend the meeting. The deadline to book a hotel room in order receive the special AGU room rate is Fri., Nov. 14.
About 24,000 scientists, journalists, educators, and students are expected to attend this year’s meeting. Please consider booking a hotel room now to take advantage of the preferential rates. There are more than 40 hotel choices included in the registration form and rates start as low as $105.00per day, plus tax. The special AGU room rates are subject to availability after the Nov. 14 deadline.
Please visit the Fall Meeting housing page to see a list of hotels offering the special AGU room rate, as well as their rates and locations. However, press must register and book housing via the press registration site, and not from the Fall Meeting housing page. Please use this page as a reference only.
Note: AGU will not be offering shuttle service to/from the Moscone Center.
4. Virtual Press Room launches in November
For journalists: Journalists covering the Fall Meeting will find many resources online in the Virtual Press Room: Press releases, press conference materials (including PowerPoint presentations, images, videos, scientific papers, and more, as available), and more. Videos of press conferences will be added to the Virtual Press Room during the meeting for easy online access.
For public information officers: PIOs will be able to share press releases online in the Virtual Press Room by directly uploading press releases and other supplemental materials to the site. PIOs must register for access to the Virtual Press Room. Instructions on how to register will be included in a future advisory. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
The Virtual Press Room will launch in the Media Center of the Fall Meeting website about a month before the meeting begins. Information about press conference webstreaming will follow in a later advisory.
5. U.S. visa regulations for international reporters
All journalists who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States need a visa to cover scientific meetings in the U.S. This also applies to journalists from “Visa Waiver Program” countries (e.g., Western Europe) who do not normally need visas to enter the U.S. as tourists.
The required visa is a “Media (I) Visa” issued by an American Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Journalists traveling internationally to attend the Fall Meeting should apply as soon as possible for a “Media (I) Visa.” The application procedure is simple but can be timely due to a high volume of applications.
The U.S. Department of State has a “Media (I) Visa” fact sheet for journalists available on its website.
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The American Geophysical Union is dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity through its scholarly publications, conferences, and outreach programs. AGU is a not-for-profit, professional, scientific organization representing more than 62,000 members in 144 countries. Join our conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media channels.
Mary Catherine Adams
+1 (202) 777-7530
[email protected]