For Immediate Release

INTERNATIONAL ECOLOGICAL SCIENCE EXPERTS TO CONVENE FOR ECOSUMMIT 2012

Delegates from more than 75 countries will gather with the world’s most prominent ecologists, including Pulitzer Prize winners E. O. Wilson and Jared Diamond, Kyoto Prize winner Simon Levin and Stockholm Water Prize laureates Sven Jorgensen and William Mitsch, for EcoSummit 2012 at the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center from September 30 to October 5.

“There are close to 1,600 already registered and we will have 300 volunteers assisting us,” said Amy Lowe of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).

A prominent international event held only three times previously, there will be 10 plenary presentations, 600 invited presentations in 65 symposia, 21 forums and restoration technique workshops, and 850 general sessions and poster presentations.

This is the first conference to join the Ecological Society of America, The International Association for Ecology and the Society for Ecological Restoration International.

There will also be tours of regional projects and exhibits of sustainable products and innovations from vendors exploring the “Ecological Sustainability: Restoring the Planet’s Ecosystem Services” theme.

The event will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the release of Silent Spring, the book by Rachel Carson that was a catalyst in launching the modern focus on responsible environmental stewardship.

EcoSummits have been previously held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1996, then Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2000 and Beijing, China in 2007.

The Ohio State University, MORPC and the City of Columbus served as planners for the 2012 event.

For additional conference information, visit www.ecosummit2012.org.

“This is an event of international magnitude and we are proud to host the EcoSummit debut in the United States,” said SMG Regional General Manager Craig M. Liston.

In addition, October 3 will be the MORPC Regional Environmental Summit, “Green World, Green Region,” featuring environmental activists from throughout the region participating in workshops, debates and discussions to benefit the environment through the creation of local projects. For registration details, visit www.morpc.org.

MORPC is an association composed of central Ohio governments that join voluntarily to focus on transportation, energy, housing, land use, environmental and economic prosperity issues of the region.

The Greater Columbus Convention Center, located in downtown Columbus, hosted an estimated 2.5 million visitors in 2011. The facility is owned by the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and is managed by SMG.

Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition centers. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 11 million square feet of exhibition space. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides construction and design consulting, pre-opening services, venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through an in-house catering company, Savor, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide.

Visit www.columbusconventions.com and www.smgworld.com for more information.
Contact:
Jennifer B. Davis
Marketing & Communications Manager
Greater Columbus Convention Center
(614) 827-2538