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CENTRO ECOLÓGICO AKUMAL
TENTH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM
SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS
AND
INFORMATION
THEME: THE RIVIERA MAYA:
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND A SUSTAINABLE ECOLOGY
I. Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) solicits papers that present the results of scientific investigations on which to base a sustainable ecology for the Riviera Maya and the Yucatán Peninsula. The symposium will take place in Akumal, Quintana Roo, México at the CEA Center May 19–21 of this year. We request that you submit your abstract no later than April 23, 2004. This will enable us to put the abstracts together and send them to you before the symposium.
The Symposium, which celebrates the 10th year of Centro Ecológico Akumal, will bring together scientists from disciplines who have worked in Akumal and the surrounding region to present their work and offer their insights concerning the potential impact of current economic development plans for the Riviera Maya. Future plans call for quadrupling the number of hotel rooms from the present 22,000 to 80,000 and include housing for 1.5 million new workers in six communities of 250,000 people each, spread along the tourist corridor, including one at Akumal. Sustainable environmental criteria need to be part of these plans. This symposium presents a rare opportunity for the scientific community to bring its expert knowledge to the attention of decision makers and possibly to influence the outcome of pending decisions with broad environmental consequences.
II. Interested participants will be asked to attend a plenary session on the last day of the symposium to draft a formal declaration describing the present condition of the local environment and suspected relationship to the present level of development. Participants will be asked to project the probable effects from the proposed expansion. The final document will be presented to regional offices of the Ministries of Environment and Tourism and placed in evidence at the meeting of the regional planning body, known by its Spanish acronym, POET. As a voting member of POET, CEA will then have a powerful tool for promoting policies that recognize environmental and cultural, as well as economic needs.
III. This announcement provides information on possible travel support, housing, transportation and the program. Questions? Please contact Charles Shaw, CEA Science Coordinator at: ceasymposium04@hotmail.com.
REGISTRATION
Please fill out the Registration Form on the last page of this announcement to help in planning.
The Registration Desk will be located in the CEA Center. Please register and pick up materials there.
Hours are: Tuesday, 18 May 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 19 May 8:00a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
An optional donation of $20 USD is requested; students: $5.00.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Mr. Curtis Sparks, President, North American Wetland Engineers
Title to be announced
SHORT PAPERS OR ABSTRACTS
Speakers may submit short papers of up to 1000 words, including any tables or figures or abstracts of up to 500 words. These must be here by April 23 to allow time for compilation into book form for distribution.
WELCOMING SOCIAL HOUR – LOL HA BEACH BAR
Happy Hour – Tuesday, 18 May, between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Lol Ha Beach Bar. Come and greet old friends and make new ones while enjoying the beauty of Akumal Bay.
HOUSING
Club Akumal Caribe is our host hotel. Rooms in the Club Akumal Caribe bungalows are available to registered participants at $45 US per night for two people and $50 US for three people. Reservations: Annie at clubakumal@aol.com.
A limited number of student spaces are available at the CEA Dormatories. These will be hostel-style with up to six people to a room for $5 US per night. Space is limited. Reservations: Nadia at nadiamora@hotmail.com.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
CEA is looking for funds that will enable us to support a limited number of students and others for a portion of their travel costs. Those who would need support to attend the Symposium should fill out the attached form and return it to CEA via e-mail by April 23. As soon as the funding situation is clarified, for better or worse, a notice will be sent to those who have requested funding. Please register by e-mail, even though the funding is still uncertain.
TECHNICAL PROGRAM AND PROJECTION EQUIPMENT
PowerPoint projection and 35 mm slide projection equipment is available. Bring your clearly labelled slides or CD to the projectionist before the session begins and pick them up afterward. All talks will be in the CEA Center. Presentations are scheduled for 30 minutes, including questions and discussion. Presentations may be in Spanish or English.
GETTING TO AKUMAL
Akumal is located 100 km (60 miles) south of Cancún. From the Cancún airport go to the far south end of the terminal and take the bus to Playa del Carmen. Fare is around $65 pesos ($6.50 US). Connection to Akumal, 30 km south of Playa del Carmen, is by Mayab bus or a Collectivo (a collective taxi/van). Taxis are readily available, but will cost $25 to $35 US, or more. A Collectivo is comfortable, air conditioned and costs about $15 pesos ($1.50 US). To take the collectivo, walk east from the bus terminal (away from the beach) two blocks. One block to the right you will see a long line of white vans with red or green stripes. Ask for Akumal. They leave every few minutes. Tell the driver you want to get off at “Akumal Playa.” From the highway, walk about 300 meters east on the Akumal entrance road to the white arch over the road, where you will see the Recepción for Club Akumal Caribe. A CEA representative will be on hand to assist you on Tuesday, 18 May, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.
FIELD TRIPS
Informal local excursions can be arranged for those interested. Check at the Registration desk.
REGISTRATION FORM
CEA 10TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM
Please Return Before May 1
Name:_____________________________________________
Institution:_________________________________________
E-mail:____________________________________________
Do plan to present a paper? Y__ N__
Title:______________________________________________
Where are you staying in Akumal?
Villas Maya Hotel ______
CEA Dorm _____
Other (Specify) __________________________________
Do you need help making a reservation? ______ persons
Hotel preference: _________________ (see above list)
Are you requesting financial support? (Send form at bottom.)
Y______ N_____
Registration fee $20 (optional). If you plan to contribute, check here ___.
(If you wish to contribute toward expenses, please do so at the registration desk upon arrival. Cash, or check made exactly to Centro Ukana I Akumal, A.C.).
REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
CEA 10TH ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM
Due by April 23
Name:________________________________________
Institution: ____________________________________
E-mail:_______________________________________
Amount requested (upper limit $300): ______________
Reimbursements will be made after your arrival in Akumal, due to slow mail service. If this poses a major problem, write nadiamora@hotmail.com as soon as possible.
Funds are limited and are needed to help those in real need. You be the judge.
Click here to read first call for papers.
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