Columbus to Host International Ecological Summit

Columbus has been chosen as the first US city to host the International EcoSummit.  Being hosted by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Conference (MORPC) and the City of Columbus, in partnership with The Ohio State University, the conference will bring together an anticipated 2,000 world leaders in the fields of ecology, environment and energy during the fall of 2012.

The goal of the conference is to develop a better understanding of the complex nature of ecological systems and to provide a high-profile platform for dialogue among researchers, planners and decision makers.  It will feature lectures, scientific presentations, displays and Ohio field trips.

“We’re going to have a ‘fix the planet’ theme as opposed to a ‘study the planet’ theme,” said William Mitsch, professor of environment and natural resources and director of the Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park at Ohio State. “For example, we will explore strategies to ensure that society and nature have access to our most precious resource: water, and all of the ecosystem services that aquatic ecosystems provide.”

The conference is scheduled for September 30 – October 5, 2012.  This is the 4th International EcoSummit and the first time a US city has hosted the event.  Previous summits have been held in Copenhagen (1996), Halifax, Nova Scotia (2000) and Beijing (2007).

For more information, see the release from MORPC