March 2005

American Society for Microbiology to host 105th General Meeting in Atlanta

The American Society for Microbiology will hold its 105th General Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, June 5-9, 2005, at the Georgia World Congress Center. The meeting will feature approximately 2,900 scientific presentations on topics spanning the spectrum of the microbiological sciences. Microbiologists study living organisms and infectious agents, and their work is critical to health, agriculture, the environment and biotechnology. Many accomplishments in the microbiological sciences have significantly affected our lives, such as the development of treatments for infectious diseases, the prevention of food spoilage, the use of microorganisms to clean up pollutants and basic knowledge of the nature of all living things.

Among the topics to be presented are:

  • Emerging Infectious Diseases in 2005
  • Microchips as microbe detectors
  • Infections as a cause of chronic diseases
  • New information about bioterrorism preparedness

    More detailed information, including programs and abstract, will be available in early May. Preliminary programs and press registration materials are currently available and can be obtained by calling the ASM Office of Communications or online at http://www.asm.org/Media/index.asp?bid=2673. Additional press materials can be found at this site as they become available. PLEASE NOTE: The housing deadline is April 29, 2005. While media will be allowed to register for the meeting after that date, they will be responsible for arranging hotel accommodations on their own.

    Comprehensive media facilities will be available and meeting registration is complimentary for the media.

    The ASM General Meeting Press Center will be located in Room A410 of the Georgia World Congress Center and will be open starting at 12:00 noon on Sunday, June 5. Programs, abstracts, news releases and information about daily press conferences will be available. All media representatives must be registered to attend sessions; registration is limited to a maximum of three individuals from a single outlet. Please note that videotaping in session rooms is not allowed.

    The ASM, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest single biological membership organization with approximately 44,000 members worldwide. Members work in different organizations, including education (research institutions, undergraduate and graduate institutions, and medical dental and veterinary schools), industry (pharmaceutical, food and agriculture, biotechnology, environmental, and pollution control companies and hospitals), and federal and state governments (research laboratories and public health).