Contents of this message:

1. Joint Assembly to attract over 3,500 scientists
2. U.S. visa regulations for international reporters
3. Press registration eligibility information
4. News Media Registration Form

1. Joint Assembly to attract over 3,500 scientists

2005 Joint Assembly will bring together more than 3,500 Earth and space scientists from four premier organizations. They will present their latest scientific discoveries at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, located on the banks of the Mississippi River at 900 Convention Center Boulevard in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Joint Assembly has replaced, since 2003, AGU's former Spring Meeting and is a cooperative endeavor among sister organizations. The 2005 Joint Assembly partners are:

American Geophysical Union (AGU), an international scientific society of over 41,000 members that fosters high quality scientific research in the understanding of Earth and atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, space, and planetary sciences.

North American Benthological Society (NABS), an international scientific organization, promotes better understanding of the biotic communities of lake and stream bottoms and their role in aquatic ecosystems.

Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) promotes geophysics and the education of geophysicists in the exploration and development of natural resources, in characterizing the near surface, and in mitigating earth hazards.

Solar Physics Division—American Astronomical Society (SPD/AAS) advances the study of the Sun and promotion of coordination of such research with other branches of science. The AAS promotes the advancements of astronomy and closely related branches of science.

For journalists, 2005 Joint Assembly is an opportunity to learn about the latest research in fields as diverse as climate change, space weather, planetary exploration, volcanism and seismology, and Earth's magnetic field--just for starters. For public information officers of universities, government agencies, and research institutions, it is an opportunity to present your research to leading science reporters through press releases, press conferences, and of course, one-to-one contact. A News Media Registration Form, intended for both reporters and PIOs, is accessible at the end of this message.

Close to 200 sessions have been preplanned for Joint assembly. The list may be consulted, by discipline, at http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm05/?content=search. Once the abstract deadline (10 February) has passed, the Joint Assembly Program committee will organize them into final sessions. Depending upon actual submissions, the preplanned list may change: sessions may be added, dropped, and/or renamed. We anticipate that there will be added sessions on the 26 December 2004 earthquake and tsunami and the 2004 hurricane season.

When the final sessions have been established, we will begin the process of organizing press conferences to highlight some of the newsworthy material to be presented at Joint Assembly. Subsequent media advisories will provide information on press conferences, as well as on housing, travel to New Orleans, and facilities for reporters at the Morial Convention Center.

The home page for Joint Assembly is http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm05/review/. It will be updated regularly.

2. U.S. visa regulations for international reporters

All journalists who are not United States citizens or permanent residents need a visa to cover scientific meetings in the U.S. This applies equally to journalists from "Visa Waiver Program" countries (e.g., western Europe), who do not normally need visas to enter the U.S. as tourists. This is not a new requirement, but it tended to be lightly enforced in the past. It is now being enforced strictly.


The visa for journalists is an "I" visa, issued by the American Embassy or an American Consulate in your home country. If you are planning to cover Joint Assembly, please apply early for your "I" visa. The procedure is not complicated, but depending on the volume of total visa applications, it may take some time to be issued.

The U.S. Department of State has posted a fact sheet about visas for journalists on its Web site, which you are urged to consult: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_media.html.

3. Press registration eligibility information

Press registrants receive a badge that provides access to any of the scientific sessions of the meeting, as well as to the Press Room and Briefing Room. No one will be admitted without a valid badge.

Eligibility for press registration is limited to the following persons:

• Working press employed by bona fide news media: must present a press card, business card, or letter of introduction from an editor of a recognized publication.

• Freelance science writers: must present a current membership card from NASW, a regional affiliate of NASW, CSWA, ISWA, or SEJ; or evidence of by lined work pertaining to science intended for the general public and published in 2004 or 2005; or a letter from the editor of a recognized publication assigning you to cover Joint Assembly.

• Public information officers of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies: must present a business card.

Note: Representatives of publishing houses, for profit corporations, and the business side of news media must register at the main registration desk at the meeting and pay the appropriate fees, regardless of possession of any of the above documents. They are not accredited as News Media at the meeting.

4. News Media Registration Form

The News Media Registration Form is set up for online submission, but includes a link to a version that can be printed out and faxed or mailed. Go to: http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm05/review/?content=media&show=press_reg

The last day for advance press registration is 13 May. You may also register onsite in the Press Room.

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