Comparative Biologists to Meet in Boston and Kick-Off "Year of Science"

December 29, 2008 For Immediate Release For more information contact: Brett Burk, Executive Director: cell 703- 981.7708; 800-955-1236 Peter deFur, Public Affairs: 804-741-2922; cell 804-690-4153 John Pearse, President: 831-648-9245 www.sicb.org The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) will hold its annual meeting in Boston January 3rd - 7th 2009 at the Westin Hotel and will join with the Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) to start the "Year of Science 2009." The meeting opens with the keynote address by Ira Flatow, host of "Talk of the Nation: Science Fridays" on National Public Radio. Mr. Flatow is known for his 35 years of reporting on every aspect of sciences and will speak on the importance of public understanding of science. The address takes place in the Grand Ballroom, Concourse Level, Westin Boston Waterfront. At the SICB meeting, COPUS kicks off the "Year of Science 2009," a year-long effort to enhance the public's understanding of science, scientific methods, and the importance of science for society. See WWW.YEAROFSCIENCE2009.ORG COPUS will launch the "Public Understanding of Science" web site to serve as an educational tool and resource for science teachers and members of the public. The web site kick-off event will be noon on Monday January 5th in the Lewis Room of the Westin. The SICB meeting features four plenary lectures by scientists who are being honored by SICB for their contributions to the field, 10 symposia and more than 1000 contributions from members. Over 1300 presentations will be given during this meeting of SICB, founded in 1889, and one of the oldest scientific societies in the nation. Symposia topics include- Cell interactions; Hormonal Regulation of Animal Performance; Insect Evolution; Sensory Biomechanics; The Genome of Cichlid Fish; Evolution of Animal Breeding; Biomaterials; Crustacean Parasites; Pharmacology of Plant-Herbivore Interactions. Scientists will present their latest research findings in areas of evolution, physiology, ecology, development, morphology, parasitology, animal behavior, endocrinology, immunology, cell biology and more. Co-Sponsoring Societies: American Microscopical Society, Animal Behavior Society The Crustacean Society