The International Polar Year will be emphasized in the national conference of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science(SACNAS), to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 9-12.

The conference will focus on global change– particularly climate change and its impact on all fields of science, ecosystems, and populations from the poles to the desert Southwest.

Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the SACNAS conference represents an opportunity for the minority scientific community to have a voice in the direction and application of research affecting the health of the planet and people.

Sessions and keynote speakers will explore how the health of the poles is held in delicate balance with global environmental practices, how all scientific disciplines can impact and are impacted by global change, and traditional ecological knowledge and the participation of tribal communities in understanding global change.

Travel scholarships to support lodging and travel expenses to the conference are available for college students and K-12 teachers. The deadline for travel scholarship applications is May 1.

For further information and to register for the conference, go to http://www.sacnas.org/confNew/confClient/current/highlights/. Or contact Dawn Contreras at contreras@sacnas.org

The mission of SACNAS is to encourage Chicano/Latino and Native American students to obtain the advanced degrees necessary for science research, leadership, and teaching careers at all levels.